At least three explosions were heard in Kabul, but there was no immediate information on the exact location of the strikes in the Afghan capital, or of any potential casualties. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan also carried out airstrikes in Kandahar to the south and in the southeastern province of Paktia.

Afghanistan said its military launched its attack across the border into Pakistan late Thursday in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday, and claimed to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts.

Pakistan`s government, which had described last Sunday`s airstrikes as an attack on militants harboured in the area, described Thursday`s Afghan attack as unprovoked, and dismissed claims that army posts had been captured.

"In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line," Mujahid said in a post on X Thursday night. Afghanistan`s Defence Ministry said the retaliatory attacks occurred along the border in six provinces.

The two countries` 2,611-kilometre (1,622-mile) long border is known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has not formally recognized.