Afghan Taliban forces targeted “several points” in neighboring Pakistan, Afghanistan’s defense ministry said on Saturday, days after Pakistani aircraft carried out aerial bombardment inside Afghanistan.

In a significant escalation of tensions, Afghan Taliban forces launched strikes on Pakistani border positions, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry announced on Saturday. The attacks, which the ministry described as targeting “several points beyond the hypothetical line,

Taliban officials described the strikes as retaliation for Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory earlier this week, which allegedly targeted hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Based on the statement issued by the Taliban defence ministry, attacks were conducted "beyond the hypothetical line", which is a term often used to describe Pakistan.

A Taliban government official says Pakistan’s airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children.

At least 19 Pakistani soldiers and three Afghan civilians died after heavy clashes erupted between security forces of the two neighbouring nations at the border crossing points, media reports said on Saturday.

STORY: Bombardment by Pakistani military aircraft in eastern Afghanistan has killed at least 46 people, most of whom were women and children, the Afghan Taliban said on Wednesday.It vowed to retaliate.

Officials say rare Pakistani airstrikes have targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighboring Afghanistan, dismantling a training facility and killing some insurgents.

Taliban forces struck“ several points” in Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani attacks on Afghanistan. Afghanistan's Taliban government said on Saturday that it struck "several points" inside neighboring Pakistan.