Afghan Interim Government’s Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Monday accused the Pakistani authorities of carrying out airstrikes along the border in the provinces of Paktika and Khost that claimed eight lives mainly women and children.
Mujahid, in a news statement, condemned the attacks, stating that civilian homes were targeted, leading to the loss of innocent lives. These strikes follow the martyrdom of seven soldiers in a terrorist attack in North Waziristan, claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadar group.
The Afghan government strongly denounced the strikes, labeling them as violations of Afghanistani territory. They urged Pakistan not to attribute its internal security challenges to Afghanistan, warning of potential consequences.
In response, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) confirmed the airstrikes, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
These incidents occur against the backdrop of increased engagements between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban rulers. Recently, the Pakistani charge d’affaires in Kabul met with Taliban officials, indicating ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) accused the Afghan interim government of harboring terrorists and facilitating attacks on Pakistani soil. They cited instances of cross-border terrorism, implicating Afghan-based militants in various attacks on Pakistani military installations.
In another development, cross-border exchanges in Kurram District resulted in casualties, with a captain martyred and two soldiers injured. Local tribal leaders condemned the attacks, calling for restraint and cooperation between the two countries.
In a separate intelligence-based operation, Pakistani security forces claimed the elimination of eight terrorists, including a high-value target responsible for orchestrating recent attacks in North Waziristan. The operation aimed to root out terrorism from the region, as tensions continue to simmer along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
