Pakistan confirms airstrikes on Afghan targets, citing terror threat

Pakistan's information minister confirmed that the country's armed forces had carried out strikes against Afghan territory, targeting what Islamabad describes as militant positions. The official statement alleged that Afghanistan has allowed terrorist organisations to establish safe havens within its borders, necessitating the military action.

The strikes reportedly targeted multiple locations, with residents reporting impacts in the Kandahar region. Pakistan has long complained that Afghan soil is used by militant groups to launch attacks across the border into Pakistani territory, a concern that has persisted through multiple shifts in Afghanistan's political leadership.

The confirmation comes amid heightened regional tensions and reflects ongoing security challenges in the border region between the two nations. Pakistan has previously conducted similar operations in response to what it characterises as threats emanating from militant groups sheltered in Afghanistan.

Neither Afghanistan's response nor casualty figures were immediately available. The incident underscores the persistent cross-border security issues that have strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul for decades, complicating efforts at regional stability in South Asia.