Pakistan carried out overnight air strikes inside Afghanistan near the shared border. The targets were locations officials said were militant hideouts.
Afghan Taliban authorities reported multiple deaths, including women and children. They condemned the strikes as a breach of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
The operation comes amid rising tensions between the two neighbors. Recent attacks inside Pakistan prompted the strikes.
Officials said the strikes focused on suspected camps linked to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State affiliates. Pakistan described the operation as a defensive measure to prevent further cross-border attacks.
Civilian Deaths Reported in Border Provinces
Taliban officials said the strikes hit areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, damaging homes and other buildings. Local sources reported that the strikes killed at least 18 people, though the toll could be higher.
In Nangarhar’s Bihsud district, a resident named Shahabuddin said the strikes destroyed his home. Only five members of his extended family survived. Taliban representatives confirmed that the strikes caused casualties in the area and damaged civilian properties.
In Paktika province, officials said the strikes also hit a guesthouse and a religious school. However, the buildings were empty, and no deaths occurred there.
Pakistan Targets Militant Groups
Pakistani authorities said the strikes were aimed at members of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Officials added that individuals linked to the Islamic State’s regional affiliate were also targeted.
The government described the operation as a defensive measure to prevent future attacks and protect national security. Pakistan has repeatedly accused militants of using Afghan territory as a base to carry out cross-border operations.
Afghanistan Condemns Strikes
Afghan Taliban authorities called the strikes a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty. They stated that the strikes had affected civilian areas and cautioned that such actions could intensify tensions between the two nations.
Taliban officials also expressed concern about regional stability and urged respect for international law and national borders.
Tensions Rise Despite the Ceasefire
The air strikes come months after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire following deadly border clashes. The agreement reduced violence temporarily, but tensions never fully eased. Both sides have continued to report incidents along the border.
The two countries share a long and mountainous border of about 2,574 kilometers (1,600 miles), much of it remote and difficult to control. Both governments have long accused militants of crossing the border to carry out attacks.
The latest strikes make an already fragile situation more serious. Relations remain tense, and any new incident along the border could quickly escalate the conflict.
