New Delhi (India) February 22:Many Afghan civilians were killed and injured as the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) conducted airstrikes targeting civilian residential areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Islamabad targeted Afghan-based terrorist groups, which it blames for the recent suicide attacks. Dozens of Afghan civilians were killed and injured in the attack, the Afghan government said. 

PAF Targets 7 Terror Camps in Retaliation Strike

Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the attack in a post on X, citing three attacks since the start of Ramadan last week.
"Pakistan has carried out intelligence-based selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates in the border region," he said.

Afghan Gov: Women, Kids Killed in Airstrikes

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the Pakistan Air Force bombed civilians in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces last night, killing and injuring dozens of people, including women and children.
"Last night, they bombed our civilian compatriots in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, martyring and wounding dozens of people, including women and children," he said in a post on X.

Army: Afghanistan Ignores Terror Groups

The Pakistani Army said that, despite repeated efforts to urge the Afghan Taliban regime to take verifiable measures to deny use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups and foreign proxies to carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban Regime failed to undertake any substantive action against them.
"Pakistan has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region, but at the same time, the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority. In this backdrop, Pakistan, in a retributive response, has carried out intelligence-based selective targeting of seven Terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban of FAK and its affiliates and ISKP at the border region of Pakistan-Afghan border with precision and accuracy," the statement added. 

Relations Sour Since Taliban Took Kabul

Afghanistan and Pakistan have been locked in an increasingly bitter dispute since the Taliban authorities retook control in Kabul in 2021. The relationship between the two countries has deteriorated sharply with deadly border clashes in recent months, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of allowing Afghan soil to be used to harbour terrorists. However, the Taliban government in Kabul denies the allegations. 

Pakistan Cites Mosque Bomb Evidence

Pakistani authorities said they had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks — including a mosque bombing in Islamabad that killed dozens — were directed by leaders based in Afghanistan, and urged the international community to pressure Kabul to act against such groups. The strikes risk further straining already tense relations between the neighbouring countries, which have witnessed repeated clashes and border closures in recent months.