Pakistani security sources said Friday that forces in the Gulistan border region successfully repelled an attempted incursion by Afghan Taliban fighters, killing several of the militants. The operation, described as a “retaliatory action,” was aimed at preventing the group from entering Pakistani territory and committing aggression.

Ongoing clashes along the frontier

Intermittent firing between Afghan Taliban elements and Pakistani security units persisted after the thwarted attack, with troops remaining on high alert in the border zone. The Taliban has not yet responded to the Pakistani allegations.

Airstrikes intensify

In related actions, Pakistan’s air force struck ten locations in Afghanistan on Thursday, which Islamabad said were being used to launch and store drones. Earlier in the week, Pakistani aircraft also hit targets in the Afghanistan‑Pakistan border region, killing 28 militants. Afghan officials accused the strikes of causing civilian casualties, claiming three civilians were killed in overnight raids.

Broader tensions

Relations between the two Muslim neighbors have deteriorated over the past months, with each side accusing the other of harboring militants who conduct cross‑border attacks. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies sheltering insurgents, labeling the issue as Pakistan’s internal problem, while Islamabad blames Kabul for allowing militants to operate from its soil.

In February, the two countries experienced their worst fighting in years, and a Pakistani airstrike on Kabul in March reportedly killed more than 400 people, further inflaming the dispute. The Taliban later claimed the strike targeted a drug‑rehabilitation centre, a charge Pakistan rejected, insisting the operation precisely hit military installations and terrorist‑support infrastructure.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.