Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province killed at least 46 people, including women and children, according to the Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Wednesday. The strikes, which took place late Tuesday night in the Barmal district, also left six others injured.
Mujahid condemned the attack, describing it as “clear aggression,” and reaffirmed that the Taliban government would not leave such actions unaddressed.
The Afghan defence ministry issued a statement condemning the airstrikes, stating that the Islamic Emirate would defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
This follows a series of deadly cross-border exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021. Tensions have escalated, particularly in the border regions, where Pakistan has been battling a surge in militant violence.
According to a resident of Barmal, Maleel, the airstrikes devastated several homes, with one bombing killing 18 members of a single family. Another strike reportedly killed three people and left several others wounded, who were subsequently hospitalized.
The Pakistani military has not officially commented on the attack, but the strike follows heightened tensions after the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which shares a similar ideology with the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for an attack on a Pakistani army outpost last week as Pakistani intelligence officials reported that 16 soldiers were martyred in the assault.
Despite the ongoing border conflicts, both Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed earlier this week to ease tensions and strengthen bilateral relations, with Pakistan’s Special Representative, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, visiting Kabul for meetings with Afghan officials and traders.
Last week, a Pakistani soldier was martyred during an infiltration attempt by terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, further highlighting the fragile security situation in the region.
