Pakistan military's media wing has claimed that 274 Taliban fighters and 12 Pakistani soldiers have been killed as the "open war" between the two countries progresses.
The information about the casualties was given out in Islamabad by Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the director general of Pakistan's military media wing. Al Jazeera quoted Cahudhry as saying that 274 Taliban fighters have been killed and 400 more have been injured.
He added that the strikes by the Pakistani army, inside Afghan territory, have led to the destruction of 115 tanks. "At least 83 posts of the Afghan military have been destroyed, and 17 of them have been captured," he was quoted as saying. "We hit 22 military targets across Afghanistan,"
A press conference was also held in Islamabad, where an army spokesperson confirmed the killing of 12 Pakistani soldiers and injuries to 27 of them.
Pakistan has carried out air attacks across Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, as Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khwaja Asif, called it an "open war" between the two nations.
Also Read: Pakistan In 'Open War' With Afghanistan, Says Defence Minister; Draws India Into Tensions
"Our patience has now run out. It is open war between us now," Asif wrote on the social media platform X.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, said on Friday that his country's armed forces can "crush the aggressors", claiming that the forces had "full capability"
"The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistani army," he said.
Hours before the declaration of war by Pakistan, Taliban government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid had said that Afghanistan was carrying out "large-scale offensive operations" against the Pakistani military.
Following the Pakistani strikes, however, Mujahid has said that his government wants "dialogue" with Pakistan to resolve the ongoing fighting. "We have repeatedly emphasised a peaceful solution, and still want that," he said in a news conference.
Also Read: Explosions And Aircraft Sounds Heard In Kabul, Hours After Afghanistan Attacks Pakistan
Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesperson also claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and 19 of their posts have been seized, Al Jazeera reported.
India, meanwhile, has strongly condemned Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for India's Foreign Ministry, posted a statement on X where he said that it was another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures.
"India reiterates its support for Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence," Jaiswal wrote.
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