Pakistan bombed targets in Afghanistan on Friday, retaliating against an Afghan Taliban offensive on Pakistani military posts near the border.

The Afghan Taliban government said it launched attacks on Pakistani bases on Thursday night. Pakistan responded within hours, striking Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika provinces.

A Pakistani military spokesman claimed 22 military sites were targeted, 274 Taliban fighters killed, and 73 posts destroyed. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 13 fighters were killed, 22 injured, and 13 civilians wounded.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated his country's forces could "crush" aggression. A Taliban military spokesperson told the BBC they would "retaliate if attacked but won't start clashes now".

The UN, Iran, and China called for immediate de-escalation.

Source: www.bbc.com