Pakistan conducts airstrikes in Afghanistan

Pakistan announced that it carried out airstrikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan, citing that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) it claimed had taken off from Afghanistan were attempting to enter its territory. The Islamabad administration stated that the operation targeted sites it alleged were being used for the launch and storage of the UAVs.

Pakistan's Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar stated in a post on his X account that attempts by certain UAVs, which he claimed took off from Afghan territory on September 23, to enter Pakistan were thwarted. Tarar stated that Pakistan was exercising its "right to self-defense" and announced that "precision air and UAV strikes" were carried out against the targets.

Emphasizing that attacks from Afghanistan against Pakistani territory would not be permitted, Tarar sent the message that "any violation of Pakistan's sovereignty will be met with an immediate and decisive response." The Pakistani minister said that Islamabad is committed to regional peace, dialogue, and cooperation, but that this should not be perceived as "weakness."

The Afghan administration, however, opposed Pakistan's statements. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reported in a statement on his social media account that 4 civilians lost their lives in Pakistan's attacks. Mujahid noted that they condemned the attacks and would respond "appropriately."

Tensions along the border line rose after Pakistani officials announced a day earlier that attacks and infiltration attempts from Afghanistan against border outposts had been thwarted. Afghan administration spokesperson Mujahid had argued that the aforementioned attacks and infiltration attempts did not take place.