Afghanistan Responds To Pakistan's Airstrikes, Hits Targets 'Beyond Hypothetical Line'

Based on the statement issued by the Taliban defence ministry, attacks were conducted "beyond the hypothetical line". While authorities did not refer to Pakistan, this term is used by Afghan officials to refer to the disputed border with Pakistan.

"Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centres and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organised and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country,” read the statement issued by the ministry.

READ | Pakistan Launches Airstrikes On Afghanistan, Killing 46; Taliban Threatens Retaliation

When asked if the statement referred to Pakistan, the spokesperson for the defence ministry Enayatullah Khowarazmi said - “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.”

Taliban-affiliated media outlet, Hurriyet Daily News, cited ministry sources as saying that the strikes killed 19 Pakistani troops and three Afghan civilians.

A comment from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry is awaited.

The Pak-Afghan border continues to cause tensions between the two allies. Over the past years, Pakistan has accused the Taliban of "not doing enough to combat cross-border militant activity". This charge, however, as been denied by the Taliban government.

(With AP inputs)