Pakistani Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Afghanistan, Taliban Blames Civilians

Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan on Monday, killing dozens of people in what Islamabad described as a counter-terrorism operation targeting militant positions near the border. The Taliban government, which controls Afghanistan, strongly condemned the strikes and accused Pakistan of killing civilians.

Conflicting Accounts of the Casualties

The Taliban administration stated that the strikes hit residential areas, causing civilian deaths and injuries. Pakistan's military rejected those claims, saying the operation was directed against armed groups that had been staging cross-border attacks into Pakistani territory.

Independent verification of the casualty figures was not immediately available. Rights groups have long expressed concern about civilian harm in similar Pakistani cross-border operations in the region.

A Recurring Source of Tension

Pakistan and Afghanistan have had a fraught relationship since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of failing to prevent militant groups, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from operating on Afghan soil and launching attacks inside Pakistan.

The Taliban government has denied providing sanctuary to such groups, and the latest Pakistani military action is likely to deepen tensions between the two neighbours.

International Concern

The United Nations and several countries called for restraint and urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue. Human rights organisations demanded accountability for any civilian casualties resulting from the strikes.

The Taliban government said the attacks represented a clear violation of Afghan sovereignty and warned of consequences if cross-border operations continued.

Analysts said the operation underscored the persistent instability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where cross-border militancy has remained a serious challenge for both governments.