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Pakistan launched airstrikes into Afghanistan early Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals.

Officials from Afghanistan reported that these attacks occurred in the eastern provinces of Paktika and Khost around 3 am, marking a significant escalation in the already tense relations between the two countries. Among the deceased were three children, as stated by Taliban officials who criticized the operation as an encroachment on Afghan sovereignty.

These airstrikes followed a recent upsurge in militant activity within Pakistan, which has seen an increase in attacks since the Taliban’s assumption of control in Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities attribute these assaults to militants based on Afghan soil, alleging protection by the Taliban government, a claim they deny.

The tension between the two nations has been further exacerbated by a Pakistani military post-attack, prompting Pakistan to conduct “intelligence-based antiterrorist operations” inside Afghanistan. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused the Taliban government of supporting militants responsible for terrorism in Pakistan, demanding more decisive action against such groups.

Image reportedly showing some of the victims from airstrikes conducted by Pakistan. 

These developments have heightened concerns over potential broader conflict along the Durand Line, the contentious border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.