The Taliban in Afghanistan said they attacked "several locations" in Pakistan on Saturday, following airstrikes by Pakistani aircraft inside Afghanistan earlier in the week, according to Al Jazeera.

The statement released by the Taliban did not directly mention that Pakistan was the target, but it said the attacks took place "beyond the 'hypothetical line'". This term is used by Afghan authorities to refer to a disputed border with Pakistan that has been a point of contention for a long time. “Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centres and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organised and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country,” Al Jazeera quoted Taliban as saying.

Taliban spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi responded, "We do not consider it to be the territory of Pakistan, therefore we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line," when asked if the statement was a reference to Pakistan. Afghanistan has refused to accept the Durand Line, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was created by the British in the 19th century, according to Al Jazeera. The Taliban views it as a dividing line that separates Pashtuns living on both sides of the border.

“Clarity! Several points on the other side of the virtual line “Durand” in the south-eastern direction of the country were targeted, which were hideouts and centres for evil elements and their supporters, who were organising attacks in Afghanistan,” Taliban said in a post on X. No injuries were reported from any side, according to Al Jazeera. 

Afghanistan has a complicated relationship with Pakistan. While Pakistan initially saw the Taliban in Kabul as a natural ally, the Taliban government is not cooperating as much as Pakistan had expected.

The current Taliban regime is trying to shift from being a militant group to a formal government. They are also working to build relationships beyond depending heavily on Pakistan, according to Al Jazeera.