The Albany Gazette - Tens of thousands of Afghans displaced by Pakistan conflict

The neighbours have clashed along the frontier since Thursday, when Afghanistan launched a border offensive in retaliation for Pakistani air strikes.

Islamabad has hit back along the border and with fresh air strikes, bombing multiple sites including the former US air base at Bagram, the capital Kabul and the southern city of Kandahar.

The violence has triggered "displacement of approximately 20,000 families" across multiple provinces, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said.

"Approximately 160,000 people have been impacted by the suspension of emergency food distributions," the WFP added, with people in multiple areas already experiencing acute malnutrition.

In Kunar province, a labourer told AFP that the violence had prevented people from getting to the market.

"Thousands of families have left the village" of Sirkanay, said Asadullah, who only gave one name.

"In some houses, only one person has stayed to guard the home, and the rest have left. The village has become empty," the 30-year-old added.

At least 42 civilians have been killed and 104 wounded since Thursday, including children, the UN mission in Afghanistan reported.

Afghanistan said the latest casualties include three children killed in a "crime committed by the Pakistani military regime" in Kunar province, deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Monday.

Pakistan has not commented on Afghan civilian casualties.

As civilians flee, Afghanistan's defence ministry reported "extensive and heavy offensive and revenge attacks" across seven provinces over the past day.

The government acknowledged earlier air strikes on Bagram for the first time, with the defence ministry saying "there were no casualties or damage".

Two residents told AFP on Sunday that they had heard air strikes in Bagram, north of the capital.

Pakistani security sources said strikes at Bagram were based on "credible intelligence" to disrupt the "supply of critical equipment and stores" for Afghan soldiers and militants fighting Pakistani forces along the frontier.

Pakistani fighter jets also flew nighttime sorties over Kabul, another security source told AFP.

- 'Finish this menace' -

Islamabad's confirmation that its aircraft flew over the Afghan capital came hours after AFP journalists in the city heard multiple explosions.

The blasts were heard alongside anti-aircraft weapons and gunfire from across the city.

An AFP journalist in Jalalabad city, between Kabul and the frontier, reported hearing explosions and various weapons being fired.

At the nearest border crossing, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Jalalabad, residents in Torkham told AFP the days-long fighting was ongoing.

Pakistan said its February air strikes that sparked the escalation were targeting militants.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government rejects.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday it was "never too late to talk", but warned: "We will finish this menace."

Afghanistan's defence ministry spokesman, Enayatullah Khowarazmi, said more than 25 soldiers have been killed.

He estimated Pakistani fatalities among troops at around 150, while Pakistan says more than 430 Afghan soldiers have been killed.

Casualty claims from both sides are difficult to verify independently.

The violence of recent days is the worst since October fighting killed more than 70 people on both sides, with land borders between the neighbours largely shut since.

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(O.Garcia--TAG)