Taliban Accuses Pakistan of Deadly Air Strikes in Afghanistan

Taliban Official Condemn Latest Strike

The chief spokesperson of the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated that the recent air raids were directed at Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan and they have claimed the lives of 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man. He then proceeded to share images of some of the children who were victims of the most deadly Pakistani airstrikes witnessed in weeks. These strikes had been carried out when their victims were deep in their sleep; they never stood a chance to escape the bombardments. 

"Last night, the Pakistani military once again violated Afghanistan's airspace and bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika," Mujahid said on social media platform X.

He added, "As a result of these attacks, 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed, while 14 other women and children were injured.”

Deadliest Strike Since Border Clashes

This latest airstrike by Pakistan is the deadliest in a long time after the relative peace at the border post fights between the two countries in February when conflict took off between Pakistan and Afghanistan with great intensity along the border and unprecedented airstrikes conducted by Pakistan on Afghanistan.

These allegations come at a time when regional tensions are at an all time high including a renewed outbreak of conflicts between the US and Iran in the Middle East along with rising tensions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir where riots have broken out between protestors and the police.

Pakistan Cites Militants Behind Operations

Previous statements by the Pakistani authorities stated that operations on Afghan soil were intended towards militant factions causing the assaults on Pakistan and that innocent lives were not deliberately targeted.

Pakistan claims its strikes inside Afghan territory is merely a response to the Afghan government of the Taliban providing safe haven for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) responsible for fatal assaults on Pakistan within their territory which resulted in death of hundreds.

Taliban Rule Continues to Strain Relations

The bilateral ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan were strained as the Taliban took control of the Afghan territory in 2021. The Pakistani authorities had accused Afghanistan of hosting terrorist groups responsible for these deadly attacks, especially their own Pakistani Taliban or TTP, who despite their alliances and connection with the Afghan Taliban's rule over the country since the withdrawal of the U.S. Troops have not been found in possession by their nation.