Dozens Killed As Pakistan Conducts Cross-Border Strikes In Afghanistan

Dozens Killed As Pakistan Conducts Cross-Border Strikes In Afghanistan

Dozens of Afghan civilians were killed and injured after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out airstrikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, targeting what Islamabad described as terrorist hideouts.

According to the Afghan government, the strikes hit residential areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X that “dozens of people” were killed and wounded, including women and children.

Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the operation, stating that Pakistan conducted intelligence-based strikes on seven camps allegedly belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates. He said the action followed three attacks since the start of Ramadan last week.

Escalating Tensions Between Islamabad And Kabul

Pakistan said it also targeted an affiliate of the Islamic State group, which had claimed responsibility for a recent mosque attack in Islamabad that killed 31 people and injured more than 160. The attack was described as one of the deadliest incidents in the capital since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing.

The Pakistani Army stated that despite repeated requests for the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent Afghan territory from being used by militant groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan, no “substantive action” had been taken. It termed the airstrikes a “retributive response” aimed at safeguarding national security.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban regained control in Kabul in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration of allowing militant groups to operate from Afghan soil — allegations that the Taliban government has consistently denied.

The latest strikes mark a significant escalation in cross-border tensions, raising concerns about further instability in the region.