Afghan military forces have attacked Pakistan at the border between the two countries on Thursday, the country’s Taliban government has said.
The “large-scale offensive operations” were in response to deadly air strikes on Afganistan earlier this week, military and government officials said.
A military spokesperson said that “heavy attacks on Pakistani outposts” were underway, with “no casualties on Afghan side”. A separate Taliban government spokesperson said that 15 Pakistani army outposts were captured in the operations.
The Pakistani government did not provide an immediate reaction to the Afghan claim.
Deadly air strikes earlier in the week
The military operation follows Pakistani strikes on Nangarhar and Paktika provinces overnight into Sunday, which the UN mission in Afghanistan said killed at least 13 civilians.
The Taliban government said at least 18 people were killed and denied Pakistan’s announcement that the military operation left more than 80 militants dead.
Both sides also reported cross-border fire on Tuesday, but without casualties.
Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.
Pakistan’s military launched its latest round of air strikes on Afghanistan following a series of deadly suicide blasts.
This story is developing and our journalists will provide more updates as more news comes in.