Pakistani air strikes in Paktika province, Afghanistan, have resulted in the deaths of 46 individuals, including many women and children, according to a Taliban government spokesman reported by AFP on Wednesday. The strikes targeted multiple locations in the Barmal district late Tuesday night.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that six others were injured in the bombing, which has been condemned by the Afghan defense ministry as an act of “clear aggression.” The ministry further asserted that the Islamic Emirate, referring to the Taliban government, would respond to this attack, emphasizing the necessity of defending their territory and sovereignty.
A local resident shared tragic details of the strikes, revealing that one bombardment killed 18 members of a single family, while another attack took the lives of three more individuals.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been rising since the Taliban took power in 2021, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan government of sheltering militant groups that launch attacks across the border. Kabul, however, has denied these allegations.
The latest air strikes follow an earlier incident where the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for an attack on a Pakistani army outpost that resulted in the loss of 16 soldiers’ lives.
Amid these escalating hostilities, representatives from both nations have recently met in efforts to ease tensions and strengthen bilateral ties, as Pakistan’s Special Representative Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq visited Kabul for discussions with Afghan officials.
