Pakistan Strikes in Kandahar Target Taliban Facilities

Pakistan Strikes in Kandahar Target Taliban Facilities

Pakistan said on Sunday that its forces carried out strikes on military facilities and 'terrorist hideouts' in southern Afghanistan. Security sources cited by AFP reported that Pakistani troops targeted and 'effectively destroyed technical support infrastructure and equipment storage facilities in Kandahar.' Another strike reportedly hit a tunnel in Kandahar used by both the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Residents in Kandahar reported seeing military aircraft flying over the city late at night and hearing explosions. The Taliban government denied involvement, claiming that the places they are talking about are far away from these two places, while adding that a drug rehabilitation centre and an empty container in Kandahar had been affected.

Pakistan threatened retaliation after thwarting drone attacks launched from Afghanistan and launched military operations targeting Islamist militants following attacks in Pakistan that it attributes to groups operating from Afghan territory. The Taliban government in Kabul has denied involvement and rejects accusations that Afghan territory is being used for cross-border militancy.

Cross-border tensions have intensified in recent weeks, with repeated clashes disrupting trade and forcing residents near the frontier to leave their homes. According to the United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan, at least 75 civilians have been killed and 193 injured in Afghanistan due to the clashes since February 26.