New Tensions Escalate as Taliban and Pakistan Clash Over Airstrikes
The Taliban administration announced that its forces launched “airstrikes” on Tuesday night (June 29) targeting areas in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. However, the Pakistani military stated that it had shot down four Taliban drones flying over Balochistan. This incident has significantly heightened tensions between the two sides.
The Taliban Ministry of Defense claimed in a statement that an attack was carried out on the “Saranan” area of Pishin district in Balochistan province against “joint ISIS and Sherfossad elements’ centers.” The ministry also reported strikes on an “ISIS center” in the Qambar Khil area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as a “joint center” in the Garm Chashma area of the Shah Salim Valley in Chitral.
According to the Taliban administration, these centers were used for planning “sabotage activities and attacks in Afghanistan,” and the attacks resulted in “heavy casualties and financial damages” to ISIS and its supporters. Independent details regarding the extent of damage and possible casualties have not been released.
In contrast, the Pakistani military confirmed only the drone flights over Balochistan, stating that “four initial drones” from the Afghan Taliban were detected and neutralized by its air defense system. The Pakistani military’s statement said security forces destroyed the drones with “high operational readiness.”
Pakistan’s military accused the Taliban administration of attempting to “mislead” public opinion with such actions and warned that if the situation continues, Pakistan will respond with a “heavy cost.” Islamabad did not comment on the Taliban’s claims about attacks on Qambar Khil and Garm Chashma.
These developments come after the Pakistani military targeted areas of Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces on Sunday night (June 28). Pakistan claimed that 25 members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed in those strikes.
However, the Taliban administration stated that three civilian homes were targeted in those attacks, resulting in a total of 36 civilian deaths and 163 injuries, including women and children. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed 28 deaths and 49 injuries.
Following these incidents, the Taliban previously warned they would take “revenge” against Pakistan—raising fears of expanding cross-border clashes and their consequences for residents of border areas.
