International Desk, Bangladesh Global: Pakistan has bombed Taliban government targets across major cities in Afghanistan, officials from both countries said on Friday, with Pakistan’s Defence Minister describing the conflict as “open war”. Pakistan further claimed killing 228 Taliban targets.
“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan),” Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Friday.
The war comes in the wake of Islamabad’s long-standing accusations of Afghan militants carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, which the Taliban have denied. Afghanistan claimed Pakistani forces carried out air strikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia.
Videos shared by Pakistani security officials showed flashes of light in the night from firing along the border and the sound of heavy artillery. A video of strikes on Kabul showed thick plumes of black smoke rising from two sites and a massive blaze in part of the capital Kabul. Another video showed a building on fire, which the officials said was a Taliban headquarters in Paktia province.
“Pakistani counter-strikes against targets in Afghanistan will continue,” a Pakistani government spokesperson stated, describing the action as a response to “unprovoked Afghan attacks”.
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