The Pakistani Defense Minister declared that this was a "public war" between the two countries when Pakistan bombed Afghanistan on February 27.
Pakistani security sources said that the attacks included air-to-ground missiles targeting Taliban offices and military posts in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, and also ground combat in many areas along the 2,600 km long border between the two Islamic countries.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia but did not provide details.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declared: "Our patience is running out. Now it's a public war between us and you.
Pakistani government spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said that retaliatory moves are still ongoing and described this as a response to "unprovoked attacks" from Afghanistan.
The Taliban claimed to have carried out retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military facilities. The two sides gave different casualty figures. Mr. Zaidi said 133 Taliban gunmen were killed, more than 200 were injured, 27 posts were destroyed and 9 posts were occupied.
Mr. Mujahid said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, 19 posts were occupied, while the Taliban side had 8 gunmen killed, 11 injured and 13 civilians injured in Nangarhar province.
Witnesses in Kabul heard many ambulance sirens after large explosions and the sound of jets. A video shared by Pakistani officials recorded lightning shelling along the border. Another video showed thick black smoke rising from two locations in Kabul and a building catching fire in Paktia, said to be the Taliban headquarters.
Kandahar is the Taliban's headquarters, where supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada is based.
Kabul - Islamabad relations have long been tense because Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) forces and Islamic State gunmen to carry out cross-border attacks, which the Taliban denies. Previously, Pakistan launched airstrikes targeting TTP camps in eastern Afghanistan, killing 13 civilians, causing Kabul and the United Nations to say.
Pakistan is on high alert, especially in Punjab province, where authorities say they have conducted many security operations and brought 90 Afghan citizens to the center to wait for deportation. Afghan state media in Nangarhar released images of a suicide bombing unit believed to be ready to attack a major target.
Russia, the only country officially recognizing the Taliban regime, called for an end to hostilities and said it was ready to mediate if requested.
