Taliban says four killed in Pakistani airstrikes across three Afghan provinces

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities promised a “fitting response” after Pakistan conducted overnight air and drone strikes on targets in Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces, raising tensions between the neighbours on Thursday.

Taliban officials said the strikes were in several areas but initial reports from local officials indicated there were no casualties in Khost or at the targeted sites in Paktia. One resident of Kandahar told AFP they heard a jet before a big explosion and fire in the city.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the military had hit 10 locations in Afghanistan which Islamabad said were being used to launch and store drones. He described the strikes as “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate” and said they were limited to military objectives, according to Reuters.

The strikes came after Pakistan claimed it detected and intercepted drones Wednesday launched from Afghan territory.

The latest escalation comes after deadly cross-border violence earlier this week. The United Nations said three civilians were killed and another four wounded in apparent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar province on Monday.