The Pakistani air force has conducted strikes in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 13 people—including 11 children—as tensions flare between the two countries over alleged militant safe havens.
Airstrikes and Casualties
Pakistani aircraft targeted three eastern Afghan provinces: Kunar, Khost, and Paktika. According to Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Kabul government, the strikes hit civilian homes.
At least 13 people were killed, including 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man, with 14 others reported injured.
Border Security Allegations
Islamabad accuses Afghan authorities of providing refuge to militants, specifically the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, who reportedly conduct attacks before fleeing into Afghanistan. The Taliban denies these claims, labeling the insurgency an internal Pakistani matter.
Pakistani security officials stated the strikes were aimed at militant hideouts used to target their country. The strikes occurred one day after militants attacked a security post in the Hasan Khel region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing six federal police officers.
Historical Alliances and Escalating Conflict
Pakistan, once a key facilitator of the 2020 Doha Agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban, has seen its relationship with Kabul deteriorate since the Taliban regained power in 2021. Despite previous hopes for improved border stability, the situation has worsened.
These latest strikes threaten a fragile ceasefire established in March following heavy clashes in February. China is currently attempting to mediate the ongoing conflict between the two former allies.
