India, Feb. 27 -- A fresh round of cross-border strikes between Afghanistan and Pakistan has pushed tensions sharply higher, with airstrikes reported in Kabul and Kandahar just hours after Afghan forces claimed to have launched attacks inside Pakistan.

Early Friday, Afghanistan's government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and in two other provinces, Kandahar in the south and Paktia in the southeast. The strikes came hours after Afghanistan announced it had launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan late Thursday, describing it as retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes.

According to Associated Press, at least three explosions were heard in Kabul. However, there was no immediate word on ...