gime, extensive retaliatory offensive operations have commenced against Pakistani military centres and installations along the Durand Line,” the Afghan statement said, adding that the strikes were conducted from multiple eastern provinces. Pakistan’s government denounced the action, saying Afghan forces opened unprovoked fire across several sectors of the long, contested border, prompting an immediate and effective response from Pakistani security forces, according to a statement posted by Pakistan’s Information Ministry. The Durand Line, a 2,611‑kilometre (1,622‑mile) frontier, has long been disputed with Kabul historically refusing to recognise it as an official boundary. Clashes along the frontier have periodically flared in recent years often tied to Pakistan’s accusations that Afghan territory harbours militant groups responsible for cross‑border attacks a charge Afghan officials deny. The latest flare up followed Pakistani air raids over the weekend in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces, which Islamabad said targeted militant hideouts. Afghan authorities condemned those strikes as violations of sovereignty, claiming civilian casualties including women and children a figure contested by Pakistani officials. Independent verification of military claims from both sides remains limited with each government offering conflicting accounts of casualties and battlefield developments. International observers and aid organisations have expressed concern over rising civilian harm amid the exchange of fire. Diplomatic channels between Islamabad and Kabul have remained strained amid the escalation, with calls from regional actors for restraint. As the situation continues to evolve, analysts warn that prolonged hostility along the border could undermine regional stability and complicate efforts to contain militant activity. Source: AP News