Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Afghan Taliban forces launched strikes on “several points” in Pakistan on Saturday in retaliation for recent aerial bombardments by Pakistani aircraft inside Afghanistan, according to Al Jazeera.
In a statement, the Taliban did not explicitly name Pakistan but referred to targeting areas “beyond the hypothetical line,” a term Afghan authorities use for the disputed border with Pakistan. “Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country,” the statement read.
When questioned, Taliban spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi avoided directly confirming the attacks targeted Pakistan, stating, “We do not consider it to be the territory of Pakistan, therefore, we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line.”
The Durand Line, a border established in the 19th century by British colonial authorities, has long been rejected by Afghanistan, including the Taliban, who view it as a divisive barrier between Pashtun communities on either side.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Taliban reiterated their stance, stating they had targeted “hideouts and centers for evil elements and their supporters” on the other side of the Durand Line.
No casualties have been reported from either side so far, Al Jazeera noted.
While Pakistan initially welcomed the Taliban’s rise to power in Kabul as an ally, relations have soured, with the Taliban proving less cooperative than Islamabad had hoped. The current Taliban regime is attempting to move beyond its insurgent roots and forge broader international ties, reducing its heavy dependence on Pakistan
