Pakistan conducted overnight airstrikes in two Afghan provinces, leading to conflicting reports regarding the casualties and objectives of the military operation. Officials in Afghanistan stated that 10 civilians, primarily women and children, were killed in the bombings, with at least 10 others reportedly wounded. Conversely, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information maintained that the strikes were directed at militant hideouts in two locations, citing initial reports that 22 militants were killed. The casualty claims from either side could not be independently verified.
The strikes occurred in the southern Helmand province and the eastern province of Kunar, where Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that three houses were destroyed. Mujahid condemned the operation as an act of aggression and a violation of universal principles. Deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat reiterated the death toll of 10, emphasizing that the victims were mostly women and children.
Local residents provided harrowing accounts of the aftermath in Kunar. Mohammad Hashim, a 30-year-old villager, described the scene at approximately 3 a.m., stating he discovered the bodies of two men and four children under the rubble while attempting to rescue a trapped woman. Another resident, 32-year-old Mohammad Habib, identified one of the deceased as a poor shepherd who had no affiliation with any militant or government organization. He described the man as a humble individual who herded goats and was not involved in any conflict.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information defended the operation, describing the airstrikes as “well planned and calibrated” and carried out with “precision and accuracy.” The ministry claimed that large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at the targeted sites were destroyed. Pakistan has frequently accused the Taliban government in Kabul of providing a safe haven for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul has consistently denied these allegations and rejected the claim that they harbor militants.
“The threat to Pakistan emanates from Afghanistan,” the Pakistani ministry stated, asserting that the action precisely targeted terrorist hubs while taking maximum precautions to avoid collateral damage. The ministry added that its campaign to eliminate militant threats originating from across the border would continue at a full pace.
These events follow a period of heightened cross-border violence. The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan reported last week that it had documented over 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries resulting from cross-border violence throughout this year. Pakistan denies striking civilians, maintaining that it targets militants who carry out attacks inside its own borders.
