**Pakistan Strikes Afghan Base, Escalating Tensions with Taliban** Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a boiling point, following a string of aerial attacks by both countries on each other's territories. The latest escalation came when Pakistan's military launched strikes on an Afghan military facility in Kandahar, in retaliation for drone attacks by the Taliban that targeted civilians and military installations across Pakistan. The drone attacks, which were described as locally-made and rudimentary, were intercepted by Pakistani forces, but falling debris caused injuries to two children in Quetta and civilians in Kohat and Rawalpindi. The airspace around the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, was temporarily closed during the incident. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the drone attacks, saying that the Taliban had "crossed a red line" by attempting to target civilians. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of harbouring fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) group's Khorasan province affiliate, a charge that the Taliban has denied. This latest escalation marks a significant increase in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been simmering since late February when Pakistan launched military operations against what it said were Taliban fighters sheltering on Afghan soil. The conflict has resulted in civilian casualties, with four people killed in Kabul and two more in the east. A resident of Pul-e-Charkhi neighbourhood in Kabul described being buried under rubble after his home was hit, saying he thought it was his "last breath" before neighbours pulled him free. The strike on the Afghan military facility in Kandahar has been seen as a significant escalation, with Islamabad accusing the facility of being used to launch drone attacks and harbour cross-border rebel activity. The situation remains volatile, with both countries trading accusations and escalating their military actions. For Nigerians, this conflict highlights the complexities of regional politics and the dangers of proxy wars. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to this escalating crisis.