Pakistan launches fresh airstrikes in Afghanistan as Kabul warns of response

New Delhi: At least three people were killed and six injured after Pakistan conducted fresh airstrikes on Afghanistan early Monday across the controversial Durand Line.

Pakistani fighter jets carried out airstrikes in several areas of Afghanistan early Monday morning, according to Afghan officials. The latest strikes are Pakistan's first known airstrikes inside Afghanistan since June 29.

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Pakistani airstrikes in Kunar province reportedly killed three people and injured several others, claimed Afghan officials. Pakistan claimed that 28 militants were killed. The strikes were carried out as the annual UN General Assembly is meeting in New York this week and the issue may figure in one of the proceedings there.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has stated that 28 civilians were killed and 49 injured in Afghanistan in the strikes carried out by Pakistan in June. UNAMA has claimed that it has documented 399 civilian casualties - 57 killed and 342 injured - between April 1 and June 30. This is reportedly due to Pakistani cross-border strikes.

Last Saturday, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan has the right to defend its territory against any Pakistani military action, warning Islamabad of a "crushing response" if it carries out strikes inside Afghanistan. In an interview with Al Arabiya English, Mujahid dismissed Pakistan's allegations that Afghan territory is being used by militant groups to recruit, train and launch attacks against Pakistan.

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"If Pakistan invokes Article 51 to violate the sanctity of Afghan territory, Afghanistan has the right to defend its country, and we will do so," Mujahid said. Mujahid cautioned that this could trigger a strong response from Kabul.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's decision to expel Afghan students has drawn sharp reactions. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has termed the decision regrettable and called for it to be revoked. He wrote on X: "The education of young people, academic activities and cooperation among academic institutions should be kept separate from political differences between countries."