Taliban strike hard at Pakistan, destroy military bases

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban has carried out powerful drone attacks targeting military bases in Pakistan. Strategic locations such as the Noor Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, the 12th Corps headquarters in Quetta, and the Khwisu Camp in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were attacked.

The Taliban said that the drone strikes were in response to the attacks carried out by Pakistan by violating Afghanistan's airspace. They claimed that kamikaze drones were used in the operation. The attacks came after heavy damage was reported in Kabul and Bagram following Pakistani airstrikes. The Taliban warned that they would launch stronger retaliation if further provocation continues.

Earlier, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the country was in an "open war" with Afghanistan. Pakistan claimed that 270 Taliban fighters were killed and 400 were injured in its airstrikes. Pakistan also accused the Taliban of acting as a “proxy” for India after peace talks reportedly failed. However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and that key Pakistani military facilities were destroyed.

The Afghan army claimed it shot down a Pakistani fighter jet flying over Jalalabad and captured the pilot alive. However, Pakistan denied this claim. The ongoing conflict is linked to disputes over the 2,611-kilometre-long Afghanistan-Pakistan border, known as the Durand Line. Afghanistan has not officially recognised this border. Pakistan’s military operation, called “Operation Ghazab Ul Haq,” is said to be increasing tensions in the region.