Pakistan airstrikes on Afghanistan kill nine, Kabul says

Pakistani airstrikes overnight killed nine people and injured 11 more, the Afghan Taliban government said on Thursday, with three houses destroyed in Kunar and Helmand provinces.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on X that Pakistani aircraft bombed civilian homes in the Chogam area of Kunar’s Shaltan district and the Safar area of Helmand’s Garmsir district. He said at least nine people were killed, including women and children, and added: “We condemn this act as an aggression and crime in violation of all accepted principles.”

A Pakistani government spokesperson offered a sharply different account, saying the strikes killed 22 “terrorists” as well as destroying weapons and ammunition, Reuters reported. Pakistan’s military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters said it could not independently verify either side’s casualty claims.

The overnight strikes are a further escalation following Pakistani strikes on Afghanistan late last month. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring militants who stage cross-border attacks; the Taliban government denies the charge and says militancy is Pakistan’s internal problem.

Sources

• Reuters: “Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan kill nine, Kabul says”
• Jerusalem Post: “Pakistani strikes kill nine in Afghanistan, Kabul reports”
• CGTN: “Spokesperson of Afghanistan: ‘Last night, Pakistani aircraft bombed civilian homes…’”