Pakistan carries out airstrikes inside Afghanistan; 8 civilians killed

The Taliban government’s spokesperson alleged that eight people—all women and children—were killed on Monday in “reckless” airstrikes in the border regions of Afghanistan by the Pakistani military.

Since the Taliban regime took office in 2021, tensions along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased. Islamabad claims terrorist organisations are often attacking from the neighbouring nation.

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated in a statement that “around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes” in the provinces of Khost and Paktika, which are close to the Pakistani border.

He went on, saying that the Taliban administration “strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of and an attack on Afghanistan’s sovereignty”.

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The strikes come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack inside Pakistan territory on Saturday, for which the country’s President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

“Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country,” he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, which included a lieutenant colonel.

Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistan’s home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

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Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Taliban’s return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

In 2022, Taliban authorities said Pakistani military helicopters carried out strikes along the Afghan side of the border killing at least 47 people.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Monday’s strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan.

However, a TTP source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media said the strikes in Paktika and Khost left at least nine people dead.

“A house has been attacked where two women and seven children have been killed and a child has been wounded” in the Barmal district in Paktika.

“A bombardment in the Pasa Mela area of Khost also has casualties.”