In a tragic escalation of cross-border tensions, a Pakistani military airstrike in Afghanistan's Khost province has resulted in the deaths of nine children and one woman, according to official statements from the Taliban government in Kabul.
Details of the Deadly Attack
The incident occurred on Monday night when Pakistani forces allegedly bombed a residential house in the Mughalgai area of Gurbuz district in Khost province. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, provided detailed information about the attack through his official social media account.
"Last night, around 12 o'clock, Pakistani invading forces carried out a bombing on the home of a local resident, Wilayat Khan son of Qazi Mir, in the Mughalgay area of Gerbaz district in Khost province," Mujahid stated in his post.
The attack resulted in devastating civilian casualties, with nine children (five boys and four girls) and one woman losing their lives. The residential property was completely destroyed in the bombing.
Additional Attacks Reported
According to the Taliban government spokesperson, the cross-border military actions were not limited to Khost province alone. Pakistani forces also carried out attacks in Kunar and Paktika provinces, resulting in injuries to four additional civilians.
The expanding scope of these operations indicates a significant escalation in cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The timing of the attacks, occurring around midnight, suggests a coordinated military operation.
Growing Regional Tensions
This incident represents one of the most serious confrontations between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan since the latter came to power. The killing of multiple children is likely to intensify diplomatic strains between the neighboring countries.
The Taliban government has strongly condemned the attacks, referring to the Pakistani forces as "invading forces" in their official statements. The language used indicates the seriousness with which Kabul views these cross-border operations.
As of now, there has been no official response from Pakistani authorities regarding these specific allegations. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with concerns growing about the impact on civilian populations in the border regions.
