• Afghanistan initiated large-scale operations against Pakistan in response to airstrikes.
• The Taliban claims to have killed and captured numerous Pakistani soldiers.
• Pakistan's military confirmed the retaliatory strikes, citing heavy Afghan casualties.
• Claims of civilian casualties have been made by both sides following the strikes.
• Border tensions escalate despite earlier ceasefire agreements.

Afghanistan has launched extensive military operations targeting Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line, described by Taliban officials as a "retaliatory" response to recent airstrikes carried out by Pakistan. The Afghan military's media office stated that operations began late Thursday, asserting they follow repeated provocations from Pakistan’s military regime, which Afghanistan claims includes civilian casualties, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

The Taliban's military spokesmen noted that their offensive aimed to target military installations across several provinces, including Khost and Paktia, stating that "numerous" Pakistani soldiers had been killed or captured. In response, Pakistan described Afghanistan’s attacks as "unprovoked" and stated that they would meet this aggression with an "immediate and effective response", which they claim resulted in heavy casualties on the Afghan side. The ongoing clashes were confirmed by Pakistan's Information Ministry, which indicated significant destruction of Afghan military posts and infrastructure, according to BBC and Anadolu Agency.

The situation has escalated despite previous talks aimed at establishing a ceasefire between the two nations. This latest exchange follows Pakistan's airstrikes last week, which Islamabad claimed targeted militant camps believed to be responsible for terrorist activities within Pakistan. Afghan officials, however, contend that airstrikes resulted in civilian fatalities, further intensifying the conflict, as reported by Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.