Pakistan conducted rare airstrikes targeting multiple suspected Pakistani Taliban hideouts in neighboring Afghanistan on Tuesday, reportedly dismantling a training facility and killing several insurgents, according to four security officials.
The strikes occurred in the mountainous Paktika province near the Pakistani border, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media. Details on whether the jets penetrated deep into Afghan territory or how the strikes were executed remain unclear.
No immediate statement was issued by Pakistan’s military, but this marked the second such operation against alleged Pakistani Taliban bases in Afghanistan since March, when Pakistan reported intelligence-led strikes in the border region.
The Afghan Defense Ministry in Kabul strongly condemned the airstrikes, accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians, including women and children. It claimed that most victims were refugees from Waziristan and described the attack as a violation of international principles.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this a brutal act of aggression and strongly condemns it,” the ministry stated, adding that at least eight people, including women and children, were killed, with the death toll potentially rising. Local residents corroborated reports of civilian casualties.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Afghan defense ministry warned Pakistan against unilateral measures, asserting, “The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered. The defense of our territory is our inalienable right.”
The airstrikes followed a visit by Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, who traveled to Kabul to discuss bilateral trade, diplomatic ties, and regional stability. Sadiq met Afghanistan’s acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani to offer condolences over the December 11 killing of Khalil Haqqani, the Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, in a suicide bombing claimed by an Islamic State affiliate. Sadiq also held talks with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, emphasizing enhanced cooperation for regional peace and progress.
