Afghan Defence Forces Launch Attack Along Durand Line, Capture Pakistani Outpost; 14 Soldiers Killed, 11 Injured

Kabul: In a major escalation, Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has claimed that its forces carried out operations against Pakistani military positions along the disputed Durand Line, as tensions between the two neighbours continue to escalate following cross-border airstrikes and artillery exchanges.

The offensive, targeting the eastern sectors of Kunar and Nangarhar, resulted in the capture of a key Pakistani military outpost and significant casualties, signalling a shift in the intensity of the border conflict.

The Afghan Ministry of Defence described the mission as a revenge against the crimes of the Pakistani military regime. Afghan forces successfully overran a Pakistani military position in the high-altitude terrain of the eastern border area.

In a statement, the Afghan Defence Ministry said its forces conducted operations in the eastern zone covering Kunar and Nangarhar provinces in response to what it described as actions by Pakistan's military regime.

"In response to the crimes committed by the Pakistani military regime, the Afghan Defence Forces carried out operations along the Durand Line in the eastern zone of Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The operation resulted in the killing of 14 soldiers and the injury of 11 others. An armoured tank and an International vehicle were also destroyed and taken out of service," the Islamic Emirate's MoD said.

Losses and Hardware Destroyed

The development follows the earlier airstrike that Pakistan conducted in Afghanistan, which Kabul said caused civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

The clash took place with Afghan forces utilising heavy fire and ground assault units to breach the defences of the Pakistani outpost. 

The reported toll includes 14 Pakistani soldiers who were reportedly killed in the action, with an additional 11 wounded.

Afghan forces claimed the destruction of one armoured tank and one international logistics vehicle during the attack.

The capture of the outpost marks a tactical victory for the 201st Khalid bin Walid Army Corps, which has been leading the "Radd al-Zulm" (RejectOppression) operation.

"In continuation of the ongoing 'RejectOppression' retaliatory operation, at about 5:00 PM today, the Afghan Air Forces carried out an airstrike on the Pakistani military's strategic centre, 'Hamza' in Faizabad, Islamabad..." the Islamic Emirate's statement said.

Officials also confirmed that the airline's fuel reserves stored at Kandahar Airport were hit during airstrikes carried out by Pakistan's Air Force (PAF) on Friday.

Escalating "Open War"

The capture of the outpost marks a significant tactical shift in the ongoing border war, which has seen both nations trade airstrikes and artillery fire over the past several weeks.

President Asif Ali Zardari stated earlier today that the Taliban had “crossed a red line” by using locally produced drones against Pakistani targets, including the area near Rawalpindi.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also accused Pakistan of striking civilian infrastructure. In a post on X, Mujahid said the targeted fuel facility supplied domestic airlines and United Nations aircraft.

He further alleged that Pakistan had previously targeted fuel storage belonging to a trader named Haji Khan Zadah. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the latest strikes have also resulted in more civilian casualties.

"UNAMA documented at least four civilian deaths and 14 injuries, including women and children, as a result of airstrikes in the Pul-e-Charkhi area in Kabul, Afghanistan, last night. We continue to call for an immediate cessation in hostilities to prevent further loss of civilian life," the mission said.

It added that civilians were bearing the brunt of the renewed violence. The conflict, which intensified on February 26, has already displaced over 115,000 civilians in eastern Afghanistan. 

"Civilians, mostly women and children, continue to pay the price for the latest escalation in cross-border violence. Since 26 February, UNAMA has recorded at least 75 civilians killed and 193 injured in Afghanistan as a result of ongoing armed clashes," the mission said.

While international mediators from China, Turkey, and Qatar have called for a ceasefire, the capture of this outpost suggests that the Afghan military is moving from defensive postures to active offensive operations.

The Durand Line Dispute

While Islamabad considers it the formal international border, Kabul has never recognised it, viewing the fence and the military outposts as an illegal division of ethnic Pashtun lands. 

On February 26, Pakistan had launched "Operation Ghazab lil-Haq" (Righteous Fury) and declared what it described as "open war" against the Afghan Taliban after the initial airstrikes on Afghanistan.

The latest escalation comes after a growing cycle of airstrikes and cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan along the Durand Line.

Relations between the two countries have remained strained since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of allowing militant groups to operate from Afghan territory.

In response, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced a retaliatory campaign, which they named "Radd-e-Zulm". The IEA said its operation would continue until Pakistan's attacks stop.

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