Afghan Taliban forces are targeting several points in Pakistan, the ministry claims

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Saturday that Afghan Taliban forces had targeted “several points” in neighboring Pakistan, days after Pakistani aircraft carried out an aerial bombardment inside Afghanistan.

The ministry’s statement did not explicitly name Pakistan, but referred to the strikes as “across the ‘hypothetical line'”, a term used by Afghan authorities to describe a disputed border with Pakistan.

The ministry explained that the strikes targeted areas that serve as hideouts for militants and their supporters, who would have been involved in coordinating attacks against Afghanistan.

“These areas beyond the hypothetical line were targeted in retaliation from the southeast direction of the country,” the statement said.

Enayatullah Khowarazmi, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, clarified that Afghanistan does not recognize the territory as part of Pakistan.

“We do not consider it to be Pakistani territory, so we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line,” he said.

Afghanistan has long rejected the Durand Line, the border drawn by British colonial rulers in the 19th century that divides tribal areas between the two nations. The border remains a contentious issue, with both countries having differing views on its legitimacy.

The statement did not mention casualties or specific areas targeted, and Pakistan’s military and foreign ministries have yet to comment on the developments.

Afghan authorities had previously warned of retaliation after the Pakistani bombing, which they said had resulted in civilian casualties. Islamabad claimed it targeted militant hideouts near the border.

The two nations share a strained relationship, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.