ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed 481 Afghan Taliban fighters, injured over 696 and targeted 56 locations inside Afghanistan via air, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday as the conflict between the neighbors rages on. 

Clashes between the two countries began last Thursday night when Afghan forces launched a surprising attack on Pakistani military installations along their shared border. Afghanistan said its attack was retaliation for Pakistan’s earlier airstrikes this month against alleged militant camps inside Afghanistan. 

“Summary of Afghan Taliban losses: 481 killed, 696 + injured, 226 checkposts destroyed, 35 posts captured, 198 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns destroyed,” Tarar wrote on social media platform X. 

“Fifty-six locations across Afghanistan effectively targeted by air.”

https://x.com/TararAttaullah/status/2029150379343323512

Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on its soil and facilitating attacks against Pakistan. Afghanistan denies these claims and urges Islamabad to resolve its security challenges without blaming Kabul for them. 

Afghanistan has called for dialogue to resolve the conflict. Pakistan, however, has rejected talks with Kabul by saying its Operation ‘Ghazab Lil Haq,’ which means Wrath for Truth, will continue till its objectives are achieved.

Afghanistan this week also claimed it launched several attacks across military bases in Pakistan, including the Nur Khan air base. Afghan authorities said they had dealt significant damage via the strikes. 

Arab News has been unable to verify claims by both sides about the damages they claim to have inflicted on each other. 

Since the conflict began, diplomatic efforts have intensified with several countries, including global bodies such as the European Union and United Nations, urging restraint and calling for talks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that ⁠Ankara would help ⁠reinstate a ceasefire, the Turkish Presidency said on Tuesday, as other countries that had offered to mediate have since been hit by the conflict in the Gulf.