Pakistan Launches Airstrikes in Afghanistan, Sparking Condemnation and Fears of Escalation
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Pakistan’s military conducted airstrikes early Sunday targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan, killing at least 70 militants, according to Pakistani officials. The strikes, aimed at groups Pakistan blames for recent attacks on its soil, have drawn sharp condemnation from the Afghan government and raised concerns about a further deterioration of relations between the two neighbors.
Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s deputy interior minister, told Geo News that the strikes targeted locations harboring militants responsible for violence within Pakistan. State-run media later reported the death toll had risen to 80.
The Afghan defense ministry issued a statement denouncing the strikes as a violation of its airspace and sovereignty, stating that “various civilian areas” in the provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika were hit, including a religious madrassa and homes. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed on X that the attacks “killed and wounded dozens, including women and children.” Mawlawi Fazl Rahman Fayyaz, the provincial director of the Afghan Red Crescent Society in Nangarhar province, reported 18 deaths and numerous injuries.
Villagers in Nangarhar were seen clearing rubble Sunday following the airstrikes, preparing for funerals for those killed. Habib Ullah, a local tribal elder, asserted that those killed were not militants, but “poor people who suffered greatly.”
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated the operations were “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, and affiliates, including an Islamic State group affiliate. He emphasized that Pakistan prioritizes the safety and security of its citizens.
The strikes come after a recent surge in militant violence in Pakistan, much of which is attributed to the TTP, which operates separately from but is allied with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Islamabad accuses the TTP of operating from within Afghanistan, a charge both the group and Kabul deny.
Hours before the Pakistani strikes, a suicide bomber killed two Pakistani soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, in the Bannu district. Last week, a suicide bombing in Bajaur district killed 11 soldiers and a child. Pakistani authorities identified the attacker in that incident as an Afghan national.
Tarar said Pakistan possesses “conclusive evidence” linking recent attacks, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed 31 worshippers earlier this month, to militants operating from Afghanistan. He called on the international community to pressure the Taliban authorities to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against other countries.
The strikes raise questions about the viability of recent mediation efforts, including Qatari-mediated talks, aimed at easing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. A ceasefire established after deadly border clashes in October has largely held, but formal agreement remains elusive. Relations between the two countries remain strained.
