Kabul has retaliated after Pakistani military aircraft bombed Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. A fierce conflict has broken out between Afghan and Pakistani troops on the border of the two countries, in which 19 Pakistani soldiers and three Afghan civilians were killed. Fierce fighting is going on in Khost and Paktika provinces of eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan.

Two Pakistani posts captured

News agency Xinhua quoted local media as saying that Afghan forces set fire to several Pakistani military posts in Ali Shir district of Khost province and captured two Pakistani posts in Dand-e-Patan district of Paktika province.

According to AP, Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said on Saturday that its military forces struck multiple targets inside Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistan's deadly airstrikes that targeted seven villages in Paktika province last Tuesday.

Afghanistan sent 15 thousand fighters

It had reportedly launched this operation to destroy the terrorist camp of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and kill the insurgents. At least 46 people were killed in the attack, most of whom were women and children. The Afghan Taliban had called Pakistan's attack a barbaric act and said that it would take revenge for it. Afghanistan has sent 15 thousand fighters to retaliate against Pakistan.

On Saturday, the Afghan Defence Ministry posted on Twitter that its forces had targeted Pakistani installations that served as hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who were organising and coordinating attacks in Afghanistan.

Ministry spokesman Inayatullah Khawarzami did not give any further details about the attacks. Reports said people in Khost province celebrated Afghanistan's retaliation. Thousands of people came out of their homes to celebrate and express support for the Afghan army.

Kabul rocked by two explosions in the last 24 hours

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's capital Kabul was rocked by two explosions during the last 24 hours. An explosion was reported near the Interior Ministry office opposite Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Kabul at 10 am on Saturday. Local resident Samiullah said no casualties were reported.

A search operation has been started in the surrounding area. Earlier on Friday, an explosion took place near the Indian Embassy. A local citizen in Kabul said that dozens of people were killed in this explosion. Earlier on December 24, an Afghan employee of the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad was attacked and injured.