Afghanistan says airstrikes launched on Pakistan; Islamabad says drones shot down

Afghanistan's Taliban said they launched airstrikes into Pakistani territory, while Islamabad said its forces had intercepted and ​shot down four rudimentary drones in the southern resource-rich ‌province of Balochistan.

Yesterday's (30 June) exchanges were the latest in a series of clashes between the South Asian neighbours.

• Afghanistan's defence ministry said its forces launched airstrikes ​on what it said was an ISIS center in ​the town of Saranan in Pakistan's border province of ⁠Balochistan, as well as elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
• In a ​statement, Pakistan's military said the drones were spotted immediately and neutralised. ​Provincial authorities confirmed the drone attack and said a drone was sighted near a government school in Saranan. Two people were injured, officials said.
• Afghanistan ​has no fighter jets but is known to possess at least ​six aircraft and 23 helicopters, data from the London-based International Institute for ‌Strategic ⁠Studies shows. The Taliban forces are also known to have drones that have been used in fighting with Pakistan.
• Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring militants it blames for plotting attacks in Pakistan. ​The Afghan Taliban ​denies the accusations, ⁠saying militancy is Pakistan's internal problem.
• At least 28 civilians were killed and 49 injured in Monday's ​airstrikes by Pakistan on its border with Afghanistan, ​in what ⁠Islamabad called retaliation for "terrorist attacks" on its soil.
• The conflict between the allies turned foes has killed hundreds of people this year, with ⁠no results ​yet from efforts to ease tension mediated ​by China.