BY PC Bureau
The Taliban, now ruling Afghanistan, claimed on Sunday (December 28) to have targeted “several points” across the Pakistani border, Al Jazeera reported. This comes days after Pakistan’s air force bombed locations inside Afghanistan. Nineteen  Pakistani soldiers and there Afghan civilians killed in border clashes with the Taliban.
While the Taliban did not explicitly name Pakistan, its statement referred to strikes “beyond the hypothetical line,” a term often used to describe the disputed Durand Line, which the Taliban rejects as a legitimate border.
💥 Taliban forces have declared war against terrorist state of Pakistan. Now Pakistani military and their ISI are screaming in extreme fear. Process of destruction of Terrorist state Pakistan begins. pic.twitter.com/jkqiOkRyrc
— Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury (@salah_shoaib) December 26, 2024
“Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements coordinating attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country,” the Taliban said, according to Al Jazeera.
BREAKING NEWS!🚨#Afghanistan #Taliban forces have declared war against terrorist state of Pakistan. Now Pakistani military and their ISI are screaming in extreme fear. Process of destruction of Terrorist state #Pakistan begins. pic.twitter.com/uQZqTYAnWD
— Afghan Taliban News (@AfghanTN) December 28, 2024
Taliban spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi avoided directly identifying Pakistan, stating, “We do not consider it to be the territory of Pakistan, therefore, we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line.” No casualties were reported on either side.
Pakistan has historically played a significant role in the Taliban’s formation and operations, facing accusations of supporting the group even during the U.S.’s post-9/11 War on Terror. However, relations have soured since the Taliban regained power in 2021, as the regime has shown less cooperation and signs of reducing its reliance on Pakistan.
ALSO READ–Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations Sour as Taliban Vows Retaliation
Amid escalating tensions, the Taliban government has deployed heavy weaponry along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to recent airstrikes by Pakistan’s military. According to the Kabul Frontline, anti-aircraft and other heavy weapons were stationed near border areas following a stern warning issued by Afghanistan’s Defense Minister, Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid. Mujahid declared that Pakistan’s airstrikes will not go unanswered and vowed a strong retaliation.
Experts suggest that the Afghan Taliban is prepared for a forceful response, viewing it as a potential deterrent to future attacks. This escalation follows Pakistan’s strikes near South Waziristan, targeting alleged Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the Bermal district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province. Pakistan claims the strikes were part of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, aimed at neutralizing TTP militants accused of cross-border terror activities.
