Pakistan Launches Airstrikes On Afghanistan, Killing Nine Civilians, Taliban Says

Pakistan has carried out overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Helmand and Kunar provinces. The Taliban government says nine civilians, including women and children, were killed and 11 wounded, while Pakistan says 22 militants were killed. The competing casualty figures have not been independently verified. The strikes are the latest escalation in a long-running dispute over Pakistan’s accusations that armed groups operate from Afghan territory.

Pakistan has carried out overnight airstrikes on targets in two Afghan provinces, in the latest escalation of tensions between the neighbouring countries.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government said at least nine civilians, including women and children, were killed and 11 others wounded in the strikes.
Pakistan, however, gave a different account, saying its military operations targeted militant hideouts and killed 22 militants. The competing casualty figures could not be independently verified.
The strikes targeted areas in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan and Kunar province in the east, near the Pakistani border.

AFGHANISTAN ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF TARGETING CIVILIANS

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said three civilian homes were hit during the overnight strikes.
He said nine people were killed and 11 others injured, describing the attacks as an act of aggression against Afghanistan.
Residents of Helmand told international media that three bombs struck their village and insisted there were no military facilities or other targets in the area.
Mujahid condemned the strikes and accused Pakistan of violating international principles by attacking Afghan territory.

PAKISTAN SAYS IT TARGETED MILITANT HIDEOUTS

Pakistan's government rejected the Afghan account and said its forces had specifically targeted militant positions.
The Pakistani Ministry of Information said 22 militants were killed and weapons and ammunition were destroyed during the operation.
The ministry described the strikes as carefully planned and said they were carried out with precision.
Pakistan also maintained that its forces took precautions to avoid civilian casualties.
The conflicting accounts could not be independently verified because of the difficulty of accessing the affected areas.

WHY ARE PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN CLASHING?

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated significantly since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Islamabad accuses the Taliban government of allowing armed groups, particularly militants associated with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks into Pakistan.
Afghanistan has repeatedly denied the accusation and says Pakistan should address its security problems within its own territory.
The disagreement has increasingly resulted in cross-border military confrontations.

THIRD PAKISTANI STRIKE IN TWO WEEKS

The latest operation is reportedly the third time Pakistan has carried out strikes inside Afghanistan within two weeks.
The two countries have previously attempted to reduce tensions through negotiations and temporary ceasefires.
Peace talks held in April followed a truce agreed in March, but the ceasefire failed to prevent further clashes and military operations.
The continuing confrontations have raised concerns that repeated airstrikes and border clashes could develop into a wider conflict between the two neighbours.

BORDER CLOSURES HAVE WORSENED THE SITUATION

The conflict has also affected trade and humanitarian access between the two countries.
Pakistan has closed border crossings with Afghanistan during periods of heightened fighting. The closures are particularly significant for Afghanistan, which depends heavily on cross-border trade as well as international food and humanitarian assistance.
The disruption has affected civilians and traders on both sides of the border, while humanitarian organisations have warned about the consequences of prolonged border closures.

CIVILIANS BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE CONFLICT

The latest reports have renewed concerns about the impact of the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict on civilians.
The United Nations said last week that more than 1,100 civilians had been killed or injured in Afghanistan as a result of cross-border fighting this year.
Pakistan maintains that it does not deliberately target civilians and says its military operations are directed at armed groups responsible for attacks against Pakistan.
Afghanistan, however, has repeatedly accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty and putting civilian lives at risk.
With diplomatic efforts yet to produce a lasting settlement, the latest airstrikes are likely to further strain relations between the two countries and deepen concerns over security along their shared border.