1,200 border breaches, 712 airspace incursions: Afghanistan cites years of Pakistani aggression; asserts right to self-defence

Afghan sources on Saturday accused the Pakistani military of repeatedly violating Afghanistan ’s border, saying Islamabad breached Afghan territory over 1,200 times and its airspace on 710 occasions in the past four years.

The allegations come amid a deadly escalation along the Durand Line following Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul and other provinces.

The latest clashes intensified after at least three Afghan cricketers were reportedly killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province. In response, Afghanistan carried out limited retaliatory operations on October 11 against Pakistani positions, citing its right to self-defense under international law . “We do not seek to escalate the situation, but if the Pakistanis insist on violating Afghan air and ground space, or carry out bombings, we will be compelled to give a firm and befitting response, because defending our land and people is our inherent right and responsibility,” the sources said, as quoted by PTI.

Afghan officials detailed the human and material toll of the violations. “Dozens of homes and shops were destroyed, and considerable financial losses were inflicted on civilians,” one source said. From the start of 2024 until now, 102 civilians and Afghan border guards have been killed, with 139 others wounded due to cross-border attacks.

The sources said Pakistani forces carried out over 712 airspace violations in the past four years, including 16 bombings with jets and drones in the provinces of Nuristan, Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika. These attacks reportedly killed 114 Pakistani tribal refugees, Afghan civilians, and Afghan border guards.

Afghan sources also cited August of this year, when Pakistani airstrikes targeted Nuristan, Nangarhar, and Khost provinces. “There were no casualties in Nuristan and Nangarhar, and contrary to their claims there were no members of any anti-Pakistan group present there. But in Khost province they killed three children from an Afghan family (civilians) and wounded four women,” the sources said.

Even before the latest retaliation, Afghanistan had largely limited its response to diplomatic protests. The sources highlighted an October 9 incident when Pakistani combat jets violated Kabul’s airspace on the eve of a scheduled meeting between Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar , producing loud aerial explosions over the capital.

Afghan officials emphasised that recent retaliatory operations were mostly confined to areas repeatedly subjected to Pakistani artillery, mortar fire, drone incursions, and other violations. They insisted that the operations were defensive in nature and aimed at protecting Afghan territory and civilians, reported PTI.