ALBAWABA- Afghanistan's Taliban-led government said on Thursday that it had carried out airstrikes against alleged Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) hideouts inside Pakistan, a claim Islamabad swiftly rejected as "false propaganda," further intensifying tensions between the neighboring countries.
According to Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense, Afghan forces conducted what it described as precise strikes against militant positions in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The Taliban said the operations targeted locations in Gulistan and Chagai in Balochistan, as well as areas in Orakzai district, which it alleged were being used to plan attacks against Afghanistan.
Local media reports indicated that several rudimentary drones were intercepted, though there were no confirmed reports of casualties or significant damage on Pakistani territory.
Pakistan dismissed the claims, denying that any substantial attack had taken place and accusing Kabul of spreading misinformation. Islamabad reiterated its longstanding allegations that Afghanistan continues to provide safe havens for militant groups operating against Pakistan.
The latest exchange comes amid deteriorating relations between the two countries, which have experienced repeated episodes of cross-border violence throughout 2026. Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of tolerating or supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose fighters have carried out attacks inside Pakistan from bases allegedly located in Afghanistan.
In response, Pakistan has conducted multiple military operations and airstrikes targeting suspected TTP hideouts across the border. While Pakistani authorities have said the operations targeted militants, Afghan officials have repeatedly reported civilian casualties, including women and children.
The Taliban has responded with retaliatory measures, including drone activity and cross-border incursions, despite intermittent attempts to establish a ceasefire earlier this year. Those efforts have largely failed to produce a lasting reduction in hostilities.
Underlying the security crisis is the longstanding dispute over the Durand Line, the border separating Afghanistan and Pakistan, which remains a source of political contention due to ethnic Pashtun ties, refugee movements, and competing security priorities.
The latest accusations highlight the fragile state of Afghan-Pakistani relations, with both sides prioritizing immediate security concerns over broader diplomatic engagement. Sustained dialogue, stronger border coordination, and verifiable counterterrorism cooperation will be critical to preventing further escalation along one of the region's most volatile frontiers.
