Escalating Tensions: Afghan Forces Strike Back at Pakistani Military
Intensified Conflict Along the Durand Line
Kabul, March 3: Afghan military units have launched counterattacks against Pakistani military installations in response to recent air strikes conducted by the Pakistan Air Force within Afghan territory. This escalation marks the fifth consecutive day of conflict along the contentious Durand Line.
The Afghan defense ministry reported that its forces targeted several strategic military sites near the extensive 2,600-km border with Pakistan, including regions associated with Kabul, the Ali-Sher district in Khost, Jalalabad, and Kandahar.
This surge in hostilities follows Pakistan's air strikes on February 21-22, which it claimed were aimed at terrorist camps, further heightening tensions in the area.
Afghan officials indicated that their forces have successfully taken control of multiple Pakistani military posts in Kandahar province, particularly in the Spin Boldak and Shorabak districts.
Reports suggest that three military posts were seized in Spin Boldak, leading to the deaths of three Pakistani soldiers and the capture of one. Additionally, two posts were reportedly taken in the Ali-Sher district, as reported by Afghanistan-based TOLOnews.
Over the past four days, both Afghan and Pakistani military forces have engaged in cross-border attacks against each other. While these clashes are noted to be among the most intense in recent years, officials have observed a slight decrease in intensity compared to the initial confrontations.
The current wave of violence began last month when Taliban-led Afghan forces initiated retaliatory strikes against Pakistani military targets following Pakistan's operations against militants within Afghanistan.
On Monday, the Afghan defense ministry announced the destruction of a Pakistani armored tank in Paktika province, which had allegedly fired shells indiscriminately into Afghan territory.
According to ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi, Afghan troops have reportedly killed over 100 Pakistani personnel and captured more than 25 military posts to date, as per reports.
Additionally, Afghan police reported that Pakistani fighter jets attempted to bomb the Bagram air base near Kabul but were intercepted by Afghan air defense systems, with no casualties or damage reported from that incident. Bagram previously served as the largest US military base in Afghanistan during the two-decade conflict.
This ongoing conflict highlights the escalating instability along the Durand Line, with both nations accusing each other of aggression as military actions persist across the border.