Pakistan’s strikes have killed and wounded many people, according to Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban

Pakistan announced that it has conducted strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan, attributing recent suicide bombings—including attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan—to fighters it claims are operating from the territory of its neighbor.

According to Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, women and children were among the many killed and injured in the attacks on Saturday, though these statements have not been independently verified by Reuters. The defense ministry pledged to take action.

The strikes represent a significant increase in tensions occurring just days after Kabul freed three Pakistani soldiers in a Saudi-mediated attempt to ease relations after months of confrontations along the challenging border.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s information ministry announced that the strikes were characterized by “intelligence-based selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts” situated along the Afghan border, associated with the Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan Province.

It stated that it possessed “conclusive evidence” indicating that previous assaults on Pakistani territory were executed by Khwarij—the term it uses for the Pakistani Taliban—under directives from “their leadership and handlers based in Afghanistan.”

Kabul has consistently rejected claims that it permits militants to utilize Afghan territory for launching attacks in Pakistan.

Afghanistan pledges to take action.

Afghanistan’s defense ministry denounced what it described as a clear infringement of sovereignty and a violation of international law, cautioning that “an appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time.”

The foreign ministry announced that it had summoned Pakistan’s ambassador regarding what it termed violations of Afghan airspace and the bombing of civilians, labeling the strikes “a provocative act.”

A spokesperson for the Taliban stated that the attacks resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, affecting women and children as well. However, Reuters could not independently confirm these claims.

Pakistan pointed to several attacks it attributed to orchestration from Afghanistan, including a mosque bombing in Islamabad and incidents of violence in the northwestern border districts of Bajaur and Bannu.

On Saturday, the Pakistani military reported that a suicide bomber in these districts aimed at a convoy of security forces. A gun battle claimed the lives of five militants, and a collision between an explosives-laden vehicle and a military vehicle claimed the lives of two soldiers.

The ongoing tension has led to multiple closures of border crossings, causing significant disruptions to trade and activities along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier.

Clashes in October claimed numerous lives before a delicate ceasefire took place. However, Pakistan persists in accusing the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan of sheltering militants responsible for attacks within its borders, a claim that Kabul refutes.