militant attacks

Afghanistan’s Taliban reported that Pakistan conducted two air strikes on Afghan territory, resulting in the deaths of five women and three children. In retaliation, the Taliban’s security forces used heavy weapons against the Pakistani military. These incidents occurred amid mutual accusations between the two countries regarding responsibility for recent militant attacks in Pakistan, which Pakistan attributes to groups operating from Afghan soil, an allegation the Afghan Taliban denies. The air strikes targeted the eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika. Following the air strikes, the Taliban’s defence ministry stated it had targeted Pakistani troops at the border. The context for these events includes a recent attack by unknown militants on a Pakistani military post, killing seven security forces, with such attacks reportedly increasing in recent months, many claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and said to be launched from Afghan territory.