Afghanistan Launches Counter-Strikes After Pakistan Targets TTP Hideouts In Cross-Border Air Operations

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated sharply after Afghan authorities announced they had launched strikes across the border, describing the action as a response to recent Pakistani air raids inside Afghan territory. The development marks a serious flare-up between the neighbours following a rise in militant violence along their shared frontier.

Pakistan's Earlier Operations Inside Afghanistan

Pakistan had conducted air operations on Sunday, saying the targets were militant positions. Islamabad blamed the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for a spike in deadly attacks in recent weeks and defended the strikes as necessary for security.

Pakistan information minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that "intelligence-based, selective operations" were carried out against TTP camps as well as an Islamic State affiliate. Authorities in Pakistan said the actions were aimed at dismantling militant hideouts believed to be operating from across the border.

Surge in Attacks Fuels Military Response

The cross-border action came after a series of suicide bombings and attacks that Pakistan says have killed both civilians and security personnel. Officials warned the country would continue pursuing militant groups even outside its territory if they were planning or executing violence.

Islamabad has repeatedly argued that fighters linked to the TTP use Afghan soil as a base, a claim that has long been a point of contention between the two countries.

Kabul Announces Counter-Strikes

Afghan authorities responded by stating they carried out retaliatory strikes against Pakistan following the air raids. Kabul described its action as a direct response, signalling a hardened stance amid worsening relations.

The exchange of strikes has raised fears of broader instability along the border, where clashes and accusations between the two sides have intensified over the past year. Both governments now face pressure to contain the confrontation while also addressing the militant threat that triggered the crisis.