Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Afghan territory on Friday, retaliating against a major offensive by the Afghan Taliban on Pakistani military positions near the border.

The Afghan Taliban government stated it launched attacks on Pakistani bases on Thursday night. Pakistan responded within hours, bombing targets in Kabul and the provinces of Kandahar and Paktika.

A Pakistani military spokesman claimed 22 military sites were targeted, with 274 Taliban fighters killed. Afghan sources reported 13 Taliban fatalities, 22 injured fighters, and 13 civilian casualties.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared the country's forces could "crush" aggression, while an Afghan Taliban military spokesperson said, "We will retaliate if attacked, but won't initiate clashes now."

The UN, Iran, and China have called for immediate de-escalation of the conflict.

Source: www.bbc.com