Clashes erupted on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan after the latter announced a military operation in response to recent airstrikes by Islamabad targeting its territory.
Pakistan, meanwhile, declared open war on the Taliban-controlled Afghan government.
Egypt called for restraint in a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and stressed the importance of exerting all possible diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and defuse the crisis.
Airstrikes launched
The Pakistani army launched airstrikes in areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, a fact confirmed by Afghan government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid.
He indicated that specialized laser units had begun operations along the Durand Line, taking advantage of the darkness.
The Pakistani Ministry of Information said that Pakistani security forces responded to “unprovoked firing” by the Afghan Taliban at several points along the Pakistani-Afghan border the day before yesterday.
It added that Taliban forces opened fire across several sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and that Pakistani forces responded “immediately and effectively,” resulting in significant casualties among the Taliban and the destruction of several positions and equipment.
In response, the Taliban government announced that its forces had killed and captured a number of Pakistani soldiers in an attack on border posts, launched in retaliation for airstrikes carried out by Islamabad on its territory days earlier.
Rising death tolls on both sides
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that 36 Afghan army personnel were killed in Pakistani military operations, while two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three others wounded by Afghani forces.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that his country had entered into open confrontation with the Afghan Taliban movement, that patience had run out, and that the confrontation was now open and decisive action would be taken.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense announced that it had captured 19 Pakistani military posts and two military bases, and that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed.
