At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed after Pakistan pounded late night airstrikes on suspected terror targets in Afghanistan earlier this week. The Taliban, an Afghan political and militant movement that controls the entire country, condemned the “unilateral” airstrikes and warned of retaliation.
As per the reports, the strikes targeted Pakistani Taliban and were carried out in an area of mountains in Paktika province bordering Pakistan. As reported by the Afghan media, the strikes targeted seven villages and one of them got completely destroyed. Furthermore, a training facility was dismantled and some were killed in the strike.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this a brutal act against all international principles and blatant aggression and strongly condemns it,” the ministry said while referring to Afghanistan’s official name.
The ministry condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes as a “cowardly act,” stating that such “unilateral actions” fail to resolve any issues. It emphasized that the defense of its own territory is an “inalienable right.”
The airstrikes occurred just hours after Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, held talks with Taliban leaders in Kabul to explore ways of strengthening bilateral ties.
During his visit, Sadiq met with Afghanistan’s acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, whose uncle, Khalil Haqqani, was recently killed in a suicide bombing claimed by a regional affiliate of the Islamic State group. Khalil Haqqani had served as the minister for refugees and repatriation.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, and their takeover has strengthened the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose leaders and fighters are now sheltering in Afghanistan.
Since ending a ceasefire with the Pakistani government in November 2022, the TTP has intensified attacks on Pakistani soldiers and police. The ceasefire collapse followed the breakdown of months of peace talks mediated by the Afghan government in Kabul. In recent months, the group has killed and injured dozens of Pakistani soldiers in attacks within the country.
In March, Pakistani air force jets conducted airstrikes on TTP positions in the border regions of Khost and Paktika in Afghanistan, following a deadly attack on Pakistani forces that left seven soldiers dead, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Captain.
Analysts warn that these airstrikes could significantly undermine diplomatic efforts to improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly after recent talks aimed at fostering greater cooperation.
