Pakistan Launches Airstrikes on Afghan Base After Taliban 'Red Line' Crossed

Islamabad has carried out airstrikes against an Afghan military base, officials say, after the Taliban launched drone attacks on civilian areas and military sites in Pakistan, marking a significant escalation in the conflict between the neighboring countries.

The Pakistani military said the airstrikes were conducted in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, targeting what it described as a Taliban hideout. The move comes just a day after Pakistani President Arif Alvi warned that the country had reached a "red line" and would not tolerate any more attacks from across the border.

The Taliban, who took control of Afghanistan in 2021 after the withdrawal of US and allied troops, have been engaged in a tense standoff with Pakistan in recent months. The militant group has been accused of harboring and supporting Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an Islamist insurgency that has carried out numerous attacks against the Pakistani state.

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The latest escalation in tensions began when the Taliban launched drone strikes on civilian areas and military sites in Pakistan, causing casualties and damage. In response, Pakistan's military conducted the airstrikes, targeting what it claimed were Taliban hideouts in Kandahar.

"The Pakistan Air Force has conducted airstrikes on terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan," the Pakistani military said in a statement. "The strikes were carried out in the Kandahar province, and the targets were selected based on credible intelligence to avoid civilian casualties."

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The Taliban, for their part, condemned the Pakistani airstrikes, accusing Islamabad of "invading" Afghan soil. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, said the group would "take all necessary measures to defend the country's sovereignty and people."

The escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan come at a time of heightened regional instability. The conflict has the potential to further destabilize the region and disrupt efforts to achieve peace and stability in the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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Analysts warn that the situation could deteriorate further, with the potential for a broader military confrontation between the two countries. Both sides have accused each other of harboring and supporting militant groups, and the risk of miscalculation and unintended escalation remains high.

The international community has urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. However, the path to de-escalation and reconciliation appears increasingly elusive as the two neighbors remain locked in a cycle of mutual recrimination and retaliation.