Taliban and Pakistani forces on Saturday exchanged fire at several places along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Reuters reported.

The clashes took place two days after the Taliban blamed Pakistan for blasts that took place in Kabul. Islamabad did not take responsibility for the blasts on October 9.

The Afghan defence ministry early on Sunday said that its forces “conducted a successful retaliatory operation against the centers of Pakistani forces along the Durand Line in response to the repeated violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty by the Pakistani military”.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi alleged that Afghan forces carried out unprovoked attacks, and said that Pakistani forces were responding “with a stone for every brick”, Al Jazeera reported.

“Firing by Afghan forces on civilian population is a blatant violation of international laws,” Naqvi alleged. “Pakistan’s brave forces have given a prompt and effective response that no provocation will be tolerated.”

Pakistan said that the exchange of fire took place at over six locations along the border.

Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s defence ministry, said that the attack ended at midnight local time, Reuters reported. Pakistan has not yet made a statement on whether the clashes have ended.

The air strikes in Kabul on Thursday were believed to have targeted a leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or the Pakistani Taliban. It was not clear if the militant leader survived.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban regime in Afghanistan of sheltering militants from the Pakistani Taliban who carry out attacks in Pakistan, with the support of India. New Delhi has denied the allegation, and the Taliban have maintained that they do not let their territory be used against other countries.

Earlier this week, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India, in what was the first visit to the country by a high-ranking Taliban official since the group seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.

New Delhi has not officially recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan. However, it has allowed the Taliban to appoint a consul general in Mumbai.

India closed its embassy in Kabul after the insurgent group retook power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as the United States forces left the country following a 20-year conflict.

However, in June 2022, India deployed a technical team at its diplomatic mission in Kabul for humanitarian assistance. On Friday, Jaishankar announced that the technical mission will now be upgraded, effectively reopening the embassy.

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