At least ten civilians, including eight cricket players, were killed and more than a dozen injured late Friday in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktika province, Afghan officials and local media reported.
“Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika province,” a senior Taliban official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Afghanistan will retaliate.”
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that eight club-level players were killed and four others injured in the strikes. According to ACB sources cited by TOLOnews, the athletes were returning to Argun after playing matches in Sharana, the provincial capital, when their vehicle was hit.
Local reports said the airstrikes also struck Barmal district, killing and injuring several residents, including women and children.
The latest developments come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, following Pakistan’s air strikes inside Afghan territory last week. The Taliban government said it launched retaliatory strikes that killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in response.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said earlier that both sides had agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire at Pakistan’s request. Taliban officials later said the truce would remain in effect until the conclusion of ongoing talks in Doha.
However, Friday’s airstrikes suggest the truce has been breached, with hostilities appearing to have resumed despite the agreement.