At least 46 people were killed in a Pakistani airstrike on Afghanistan’s Paktika province, the Afghan Taliban government reported Wednesday, pledging retaliation.
A senior Pakistani security official stated that the airstrikes targeted “terrorist hideouts” along the border. The bombardment, which occurred in the Barmal district of eastern Paktika, resulted in the deaths of mostly women and children, with six others injured.
The Taliban government condemned the strikes as “barbaric” and vowed to defend its sovereignty, calling the attack a “clear aggression.” A Pakistani security source revealed that the airstrikes, involving both jets and drones, were aimed at militant positions inside Afghanistan.
This escalation in border tensions follows a history of skirmishes between the two countries, particularly since the Taliban took power in 2021.
This latest violence is part of the ongoing strain between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban of sheltering militants who carry out attacks on Pakistani soil.
Despite the claims, the Taliban denies harboring such groups and has committed to removing foreign militants from Afghanistan. The relationship between the two countries continues to deteriorate as attacks along the border persist.
