A nationwide polio vaccination campaign has been launched in 18 provinces across Afghanistan, targeting more than 7.3 million children under the age of five, the Ministry of Public Health announced on Monday.

Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman Amarkhel said the campaign is currently underway in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Badghis, Herat, Kunduz, Faryab, Balkh, Zabul, Uruzgan, Helmand and Kandahar.

The “Polio Free Afghanistan” organization confirmed that the drive is being carried out in close coordination with international health organizations and partner agencies.

Health officials say the campaign forms part of continued efforts to protect children from the crippling disease and move closer to its eradication. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries worldwide where wild poliovirus transmission has not yet been eliminated, largely due to insecurity, vaccine hesitancy and difficulties accessing children in remote areas.

Authorities have urged families to cooperate fully with vaccination teams to ensure all eligible children receive the life-saving polio drops.

At least 15 Pakistani soldiers and 18 civilians were killed in a series of coordinated attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Saturday, according to the Pakistani military.

The military said the attacks were carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), prompting security forces to launch a large-scale counter-operation across the region. Officials said the operation resulted in the deaths of 92 militants.

The separatist group, which operates under the name Baloch Liberation Army, later claimed responsibility for the assaults.

Pakistani authorities accused India of supporting the group and alleged that New Delhi is backing militant activity in Balochistan. India has not responded to the accusations.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the attackers as highly organized and claimed foreign involvement. “These were not ordinary terrorists. India is behind these attacks, and we will expose them globally,” he said.

Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan peace Zalmay Khalilzad said Pakistan’s long-standing approach to security in Balochistan has been ineffective, arguing that the situation requires a fundamental change in strategy.

Responding to Pakistan’s allegations, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi “categorically rejects” what he described as baseless claims, accusing Pakistan of attempting to deflect attention from its own internal challenges.

He said Pakistan should focus on addressing long-standing grievances in the region rather than repeating what he called unfounded accusations after every violent incident. Jaiswal added that Pakistan’s record on suppression, brutality, and human rights violations is well documented.