Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday announced that its military successfully killed at least 26 militants in a series of targeted airstrikes along the Afghanistan border. The operations were meticulously executed in response to recent militant attacks within Pakistan's borders.

According to Anadolu Agency, Pakistani security forces conducted these operations with precision, focusing on dismantling militant hideouts. The strikes were a direct reaction to recent incursions, as stated by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in a statement via US social media platform X. Tarar emphasized that the operations were not only precise but also carefully calibrated to target strategic militant locations.

The operations resulted in the destruction of four key targets: a training center, a hideout, an ammunition cache, and compounds linked to two commanders, Aleem Khan Khushali and Akhtar Muhammad Jani Khel. The minister reiterated Pakistan's commitment to regional peace and stability while ensuring the safety and security of its citizens remain paramount.

However, the airstrikes have exacerbated tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistani military aircraft of violating Afghanistan's airspace, claiming the strikes resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians, including 11 children, in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika.

The relationship between the neighboring countries has been strained since February, following Pakistan's strikes on alleged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan hideouts in eastern Afghanistan. Kabul has consistently denied allowing the group to operate from its territory. Despite a ceasefire agreement after deadly clashes in March and China-mediated talks in Urumqi, tensions along the border persist.