Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated after the Taliban government claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting a military facility in Pakistan’s Kohat region.
Officials from Afghanistan’s defense ministry said the operation involved suicide drones aimed at the Kohat Army Camp in Kohat. The strike was described as retaliation for recent Pakistani air raids inside Afghanistan.
According to Taliban officials, Pakistan carried out airstrikes in several locations including Kabul and Kandahar, which they claim killed at least six people. Afghan authorities alleged that the strikes hit multiple sites, including residential areas, and resulted in civilian casualties, though these claims have not been independently verified.
The Kohat Cantonment is considered one of Pakistan’s historic garrison towns and hosts major formations of the Pakistan Army, including units of the 9th Infantry Division. Located near the strategic Kohat Pass, the base plays an important role in military operations in the region.
Open-source intelligence monitoring accounts reported multiple attempted drones strikes on the cantonment. According to the monitoring platform Osita, potential targets included Kohat Fort, a Pakistan Air Force officers’ mess and a residential facility used by military personnel.
The timeline shared by the platform indicated that at least four attempted drone strikes occurred within roughly two hours.
However, Pakistani authorities disputed the scale of the attack, stating that air defense systems intercepted the incoming drones before they could hit their intended targets. Officials added that debris from the intercepted drones caused minor injuries to civilians in nearby areas.
The latest developments highlight a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighbors. The situation has intensified in recent weeks, with Pakistan previously describing the growing conflict with Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as an “open war.”
