Pakistan conducted airstrikes along the Afghanistan border on Sunday, targeting hideouts of Pakistani militants responsible for recent attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan Red Crescent Society reported more than a dozen casualties from the strikes.
The locations targeted were not specified by Pakistan, but the Afghan Defence Ministry stated that various civilian areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces were hit, including a religious school and multiple homes. The Afghan government condemned the strikes as a violation of its airspace and sovereignty.
Afghan officials, including government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed 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 Pakistani Taliban camps and an affiliate of the Islamic State group. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace while prioritizing the safety of its citizens.
Militant violence in Pakistan, attributed to groups like the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatists, has increased in recent years. The TTP, closely linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban, is accused by Islamabad of operating from Afghan territory, a claim denied by both the group and Kabul.
Prior to the airstrikes, a suicide bomber attacked a security convoy in Bannu district, killing two soldiers. Pakistan’s military vowed to retaliate, citing the ongoing operations against those responsible for such attacks.
In a separate incident, a suicide bomber targeted a security post in Bajaur district, killing 11 soldiers and a child. Authorities revealed that the attacker was an Afghan national. Pakistan presented evidence linking recent attacks to militants based in Afghanistan and urged the international community to pressure the Afghan Taliban to prevent cross-border attacks.
A ceasefire agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan, mediated by Qatar, followed border clashes that resulted in numerous casualties. Despite the ceasefire, tensions persist between the two nations, with efforts to reach a formal agreement during talks in Istanbul proving unsuccessful.