Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated sharply after Taliban forces reportedly carried out coordinated attacks on several Pakistani military installations, including the strategic Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi. The strikes marked a serious escalation in the ongoing cross-border conflict between the two sides.

According to reports, the attacks targeted multiple sensitive military locations across Pakistan, including the 12th Corps headquarters in Quetta and facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Taliban claimed the strikes were conducted using drones and other aerial systems aimed at key military and command centres.

The Nur Khan Airbase, located near Rawalpindi and close to Pakistan’s military headquarters, is considered one of the country’s most important strategic air facilities. Reports indicate the base was struck while parts of it were still undergoing repairs following earlier damage and previous military operations.

Afghanistan’s defence authorities said the attacks were carried out in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory. Kabul accused Islamabad of violating Afghan airspace and targeting areas believed to house Taliban positions, prompting what it described as a “proportionate response.”

Pakistan has not fully confirmed the extent of the damage but acknowledged that tensions along the border have intensified. The Pakistani military has also claimed it carried out retaliatory strikes against Taliban targets inside Afghanistan.

The latest developments come amid a broader deterioration in relations between Islamabad and the Taliban government in Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of allowing militant groups such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from its territory, a charge the Taliban denies.

Analysts warn that the attacks on sensitive military facilities could significantly raise the stakes in the conflict. Cross-border clashes between Pakistani forces and Afghan fighters have already displaced thousands of people along the frontier and raised fears of a wider regional confrontation.

With both sides exchanging strikes and accusations, the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remains volatile, and observers fear that continued escalation could further destabilize the already fragile security environment in the region.