Pakistan conducted airstrikes along the Afghanistan border on Sunday, targeting hideouts of Pakistani militants allegedly responsible for recent attacks within Pakistan. The Afghan Red Crescent Society reported more than a dozen casualties from the strikes.
Although specific locations were not disclosed by Pakistan, the Afghan Defence Ministry stated that “various civilian areas” in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces were hit, including a religious school and multiple civilian residences. The Afghan government condemned the strikes as a violation of Afghan airspace and sovereignty.
Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid mentioned on social media that the attacks resulted in casualties, including women and children. The provincial director of the Afghan Red Crescent Society in Nangarhar province confirmed 18 fatalities and several injuries.
Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, stated that the military conducted targeted operations against seven camps of the Pakistani Taliban and an affiliate of the Islamic State group. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and security while prioritizing the safety of its citizens.
Militant violence in Pakistan, attributed to groups like the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatists, has surged in recent years. The Pakistani government accuses the Pakistani Taliban of operating from Afghanistan, a claim denied by both the group and Kabul.
Prior to the airstrikes, a suicide bomber attacked a security convoy in Bannu, Pakistan, killing two soldiers. Pakistan’s military vowed to continue operations against those responsible for the attack.
Tarar emphasized that recent attacks, including a suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad that killed worshippers, were orchestrated by militants based in Afghanistan. He called on Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership to prevent such attacks and urged the international community to hold them accountable under the Doha agreement.
A ceasefire brokered by Qatar followed deadly border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan in October. Despite holding talks in Istanbul, formal agreements have not been reached, and tensions persist between the two neighboring countries.