8 killed in Pakistan air strikes on eastern Afghanistan
Tragedy struck on Monday as eight individuals, including women and children, lost their lives in what has been described as "reckless" air strikes conducted by the Pakistan military in the border areas of Afghanistan, according to a statement by a spokesman for the Taliban government.
The tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have escalated since the Taliban took control of the government in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that militant groups are launching attacks from Afghan territory.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, reported that Pakistani aircraft targeted civilian residences in the provinces of Khost and Paktika, near the Pakistan border, around 3:00 am local time. He strongly condemned these air strikes, labeling them as a blatant violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty.
'These attacks are unacceptable and reflect a reckless disregard for human life,' Mujahid stated, warning that such actions could lead to severe repercussions beyond Pakistan's control.
A local official from Pakistan's border regions, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the military had conducted the strikes in retaliation to alleged targeting of Pakistani territory by Afghan forces. He further disclosed that announcements had been made in mosques urging residents to vacate certain areas in Kurram and North Waziristan due to ongoing border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
These air strikes occurred in the aftermath of an attack on Saturday that claimed the lives of seven Pakistani soldiers within Pakistani territory. Following this incident, President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation, indicating a potentially escalating cycle of violence along the volatile border region.
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