Afghanistan Launches Retaliatory Drone Strikes on Pakistani Military Installations
In a significant escalation of cross-border hostilities, the Afghan Air Force has executed precise drone strikes targeting critical Pakistani military installations. The retaliatory operations specifically struck the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the 12th Corps headquarters in Quetta, the Khowizoo Camp in Mohmand Agency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Ghulni military bases. These facilities are widely regarded as vital defense and operational centers for Pakistan's armed forces.
Official Statement from Afghanistan's Defense Ministry
Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defense confirmed the operations through an official social media post on platform X. The ministry stated, "Today, the Air Force conducted precise and coordinated aerial operations against key military installations in Pakistan." The statement elaborated that these strikes were a direct response to recent aerial incursions by Pakistani military forces, which had targeted Kabul, Bagram, and several other Afghan regions in preceding operations.
Preliminary assessments indicate the strikes inflicted significant damage to the intended targets. The ministry issued a stern warning, emphasizing that any further violations of Afghan airspace or acts of aggression by Pakistani elements would be met with a swift, decisive, and proportionate response. The Afghan defense authorities also released visual evidence, including a video of a kamikaze drone and images purportedly showing the targeted Pakistani air base.
Background of Escalating Tit-for-Tat Conflict
This development follows a series of aggressive military exchanges between the two neighboring nations. Pakistan recently conducted airstrikes on major Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul, with Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declaring an "open war" status following months of escalating clashes. Islamabad claimed its operations killed over 270 Taliban fighters and injured more than 400 others.
In response, Afghanistan's Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid asserted that Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and targeted important military objectives inside Pakistan. The conflict intensified when Afghan Taliban forces attacked several border checkposts late Thursday, apparently to avenge Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's border regions. Pakistan retaliated by hitting targets in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia under 'Operation Ghazab lil Haq' early Friday.
Additional Claims and Denials
In recent days, Afghan forces also claimed to have shot down a Pakistani fighter jet over Jalalabad and captured its pilot alive. A police spokesman told AFP news agency, "A Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in the sixth district of Jalalabad city, and its pilot was captured alive." Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the military in eastern Afghanistan, confirmed the incident.
However, Pakistan has categorically denied Afghanistan's jet crash claim, labeling it as "totally untrue." The 2,611-kilometer-long border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, known as the Durand Line, remains a contentious issue, as Kabul has never formally recognized this boundary.
Diplomatic Context and Proxy Allegations
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan made extensive efforts to normalize the situation through direct engagement and via friendly countries, pursuing full-fledged diplomacy. However, he accused the "Taliban becoming a proxy for India," highlighting the complex geopolitical dimensions underlying the conflict. The ongoing tit-for-tat military actions represent a dangerous escalation in regional tensions, with both sides demonstrating increased military capabilities and willingness to engage in cross-border strikes.
