Pakistan conducted airstrikes along the Afghanistan border on Sunday, targeting hideouts of Pakistani militants responsible for recent attacks within Pakistan. The Afghan Red Crescent Society reported over a dozen casualties. The Afghan Defence Ministry stated that the strikes hit various civilian areas in Nangarhar and Paktika, including a religious madrassa and civilian homes, violating Afghanistan’s airspace and sovereignty.
Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated on social media that the attacks resulted in numerous casualties, including women and children. The Afghan Red Crescent Society confirmed 18 fatalities and multiple injuries in Nangarhar province.
Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, disclosed that the military conducted intelligence-based operations against seven Pakistani Taliban camps and an affiliate of the Islamic State group. Tarar emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace while prioritizing the safety of its citizens.
Militant violence, attributed to groups like the TTP and Baloch separatists, has surged in Pakistan. 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.
Before the airstrikes, a suicide bomber attacked a security convoy in Bannu, Pakistan, killing two soldiers. Pakistan’s military vowed to intensify operations against the perpetrators. In a separate incident, a suicide bomber targeted a security post in Bajaur district, killing 11 soldiers and a child. The attacker was identified as an Afghan national.
Pakistan presented evidence linking recent attacks, including a mosque bombing in Islamabad, to militants acting under Afghanistan-based leadership. The information minister urged Afghanistan’s Taliban to prevent such attacks and called on the international community to hold them accountable under the Doha agreement.
A ceasefire mediated by Qatar followed border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but subsequent talks failed to solidify an agreement. Tensions persist between the two neighboring countries despite the ceasefire.