The spokesperson for the Taliban movement, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated that this decision was made against the backdrop of "repeated provocations" from Islamabad. On February 21, Pakistani forces conducted airstrikes in the Paktia and Nangarhar regions, claiming that their targets were camps of terrorist groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic State, located near the disputed Durand Line.
During the fighting, the provinces of Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika were affected. According to Mujahid, the Taliban seized 15 enemy positions and killed 40 of its soldiers, with additional wounded and captured. In response, the Pakistani Ministry of Information reported that the Taliban opened "unprovoked fire" at the border, prompting an "immediate and effective response," resulting in "significant losses" for them. According to Reuters, 22 Taliban members were killed, and several drones were shot down. The shooting lasted for more than two hours.
The spokesperson for the Pakistani Prime Minister, Musharraf Zaidi, stated that none of the Pakistani posts were captured or destroyed and warned that "any aggression will provoke a mirror response." In turn, Mujahid noted the possibility of strikes on "key targets and important cities" in Pakistan in the event of attacks on Kabul or other major cities in Afghanistan.
Amid escalating conflict, Pakistan has taken measures to enhance security: troops are on heightened alert, operations based on intelligence have intensified, and dozens of suspects, including Afghan nationals, have been detained, reports Reuters.
Later, on the night of February 27, Pakistan conducted airstrikes on several Afghan cities.
"Our army struck in the areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties," reported the spokesperson for the Supreme Leader of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, on social media X.
Residents of Kabul told AFP that they heard up to eight explosions, followed by gunfire. According to Geo, the airstrike targeted an ammunition depot in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani Minister of Information, Attaullah Tarar, confirmed on X that strikes were carried out on targets in Kabul, as well as in Paktia and Kandahar. "Our forces are capable of suppressing any aggressive ambitions," stated Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, adding that "the entire nation supports its armed forces."
