Pakistani airstrikes hit three houses in Afghanistan on Thursday, killing nine people including women and children, the Taliban government said, while Islamabad said 22 “terrorists” were killed after hideouts were targeted.
Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the overnight strikes targeted homes in Chogam, in Kunar’s Shultan district, and Safaar, in Helmand’s Garmser district, adding that three houses were destroyed.
“We condemn this action because it is an act of aggression and a crime that violates all recognised principles,” he said.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information, however, said the strikes were based on “credible intelligence” and targeted militant camps and hideouts at two locations.
“Targets were destroyed with precision and initial reports suggest killing of twenty two terrorists,” the ministry said in a statement on X.
The ministry described the strikes as “well-planned and calibrated” and said “maximum precautions” had been taken to avoid civilian casualties. It added that large quantities of weapons and ammunition were destroyed and said Pakistan’s military campaign would continue.
A man salvages belongings from a house damaged in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani airstrike in Shultan district, Kunar province. [Reuters]
The casualty figures and accounts from the two sides could not be independently verified.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of harbouring militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul has rejected the accusation, saying militancy inside Pakistan is an internal issue.
Afghan authorities have, in turn, accused Pakistan of supporting armed groups operating against the Taliban government.
Last Sunday, Afghanistan’s defence ministry said its forces killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 in Nuristan after an armed group crossed from Pakistan. The ministry alleged that Pakistani militias had supported the fighters and said many were former members of Afghanistan’s previous government security forces.
The ministry also accused Pakistani intelligence of recruiting former Afghan military personnel “under the pretext of providing assistance”, training them and sending them towards Nuristan.
It said the fighters had crossed into Kamdesh district intending to carry out attacks and claimed that surviving members fled back towards Pakistani militia positions after Afghan forces launched an operation.
Pakistan’s Information Ministry rejected the allegations, calling them “frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth”. It denied that Pakistani forces or intelligence agencies had recruited or trained former Afghan security personnel or facilitated armed groups operating inside Afghanistan.
Allegations involving former Afghan security personnel have also surfaced in Balochistan. Political and rights figures, including Baloch Yakjehti Committee chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch, have alleged that former Afghan personnel were operating alongside Pakistani forces there.
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