Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict still simmering, denying each other being attacked

Afghanistan announced on Friday, June 19, that its military had launched an air raid on a militant hideout in two Pakistani provinces. However, the statement was quickly denied by Pakistan.

Citing Reuters, the Taliban government's Ministry of Defense said on X that militant hideouts in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan, which both border Afghanistan, were the target of an Afghan air force attack on Thursday night.

The air raids come months after neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan were engaged in their worst conflict between the two countries in years.

According to data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, Afghanistan is known to have no fighter jets, but has at least six planes and 23 helicopters.

The Afghan military's military strength through the Taliban forces includes the possession of drones that have been used in battles with Pakistan.

"These bases, which are suspected of being used in cooperation with certain enemy intelligence circles to plan and organize attacks against Afghanistan, have previously served as preparation sites for several deadly attacks," the Afghan ministry said.

"According to initial information, the operation successfully hit the main targets that had been predetermined," he added, without giving details about the casualties.

Shortly afterwards, Pakistan's Information Ministry denied the Afghan Taliban's statement, saying a "simple drone" from Afghanistan had entered Pakistani airspace but was immediately identified and shot down.

"These claims are false, as usual. The terrorist camps... are actually located, run, and supported from within the territory under the control of the Afghan Taliban regime," Pakistan said in a post on X.

The conflict between the two countries, which were originally allies, has killed hundreds of people this year. Pakistani and Afghan tensions have been temporarily eased by Chinese mediation but have not produced lasting results so far.

Pakistan launched air raids in Afghan provinces last week, which the Afghan Taliban said killed at least 13 people, including 11 children, and wounded 14 others.

Pakistan said the "measured attack" killed 26 militants and was a response to a recent series of attacks in northwest Pakistan.