Afghanistan confirms Pakistani forces airstrikes in several locations

KABUL/ISLAMABAD - Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan government, posted on his X account early Friday that the Pakistani military conducted airstrikes in parts of Kabul, southern Kandahar, and eastern Paktia province. He said no civilian casualties were reported.

Following the airstrikes, extensive retaliatory operations were reportedly carried out against Pakistani military positions in Kandahar and Helmand, according to the spokesperson.

In a separate statement released early Friday, the Afghan Ministry of Defense said its forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and seized dozens of pieces of Pakistani military equipment during the operations. The ministry said the military actions along the border have now concluded.

The statement also reported Afghan losses, saying eight Afghan security personnel were killed and 11 others were wounded during the clashes.

A security source from Pakistan told Xinhua that Pakistan launched airstrikes on Taliban facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia in Afghanistan early Friday, targeting key defense targets.

According to the source, Pakistan conducted the airstrikes as part of the Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (Wrath of Justice), which was launched after Afghan Taliban started attacks on Pakistani posts at the border on Thursday evening.

Mosharraf Zaidi, the prime minister's spokesperson, said in a statement that 72 Afghan militants were killed, more than 120 were injured, 16 posts were destroyed, and seven Afghan posts were captured in retaliatory attacks by Pakistani forces.