At a Glance

• Pakistan carried out overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Helmand and Kunar provinces.
• Afghanistan says nine women and children were killed and 11 civilians wounded.
• Pakistan says its strikes targeted militant hideouts and killed 22 militants.
• Both sides gave conflicting accounts of the casualties and targets.

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Pakistan and Afghanistan are facing renewed tensions after overnight airstrikes inside Afghanistan, with both governments offering sharply different accounts of the targets and casualties.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Afghanistan’s Response: “We condemn this act, and consider this an act of aggression and a crime that violates all universally accepted principles.” — Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
• Pakistan’s Position: “The threat to Pakistan emanates from Afghanistan.” — Pakistan Ministry of Information.
• Focus Area: The strikes are part of continuing cross-border tensions centered on militant activity and competing claims over attacks and civilian casualties.

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Strikes Hit Two Afghan Provinces

The overnight strikes targeted locations in southern Helmand province and eastern Kunar province, according to the two governments.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government said three civilian homes were destroyed. It reported nine women and children killed and 11 other civilians wounded.

Pakistan said its military targeted militant hideouts and camps at two locations. Its Ministry of Information said initial reports indicated 22 militants had been killed and that weapons and ammunition were destroyed. The casualty claims from both sides could not be independently verified.

Dispute Over Militants

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of allowing Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, to operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks inside Pakistan.

The TTP is a separate organization from the Afghan Taliban but is allied with it. Afghanistan has denied providing the group a safe haven and rejected Pakistan’s accusations.

Pakistan said its latest operation was designed to target what it described as terrorist hubs and that precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

FYI

The strikes follow repeated clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and several Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan this year.

The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan said last week that it had documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries resulting from cross-border violence in Afghanistan so far this year.

Pakistan rejects allegations that it deliberately targets civilians and says its military operations are directed at militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.

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