Pakistan Conducts Cross-Border Airstrikes in Afghanistan, Killing Over 20
Footage circulating online shows the devastating aftermath of Pakistani air strikes on a religious madrassa in eastern Afghanistan. Rescuers are seen digging through rubble, and families are desperately searching for loved ones in the chaos. Afghan sources reported to TOLOnews that the seminary, located in the Barmal district of Paktika province, was among the sites hit overnight. Local officials have confirmed that more than 20 people were killed in the attack, with many of the victims being children.
Details of the Airstrikes and Casualties
The strikes began late on Saturday and reportedly targeted areas in Barmal and Urgun districts of Paktika, as well as Khogyani, Behsud, and Ghani Khel districts in Nangarhar province. An AFP journalist in Behsud described residents using a bulldozer to clear debris as bodies were pulled from collapsed buildings. An Afghan security source provided further details, stating that at least 17 people died when a house was struck, including 12 children and teenagers.
Pakistan's Justification for the Operation
Islamabad confirmed it had carried out what it called "intelligence-based, selective operations" against seven militant camps along the border. In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the action targeted hideouts belonging to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna al Khwarij, and affiliates of Islamic State Khorasan Province. The Pakistani government asserted that the strikes were a direct response to recent suicide bombings inside Pakistan. These attacks included an assault on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed dozens, as well as other incidents in Bajaur and Bannu. Hours before the cross-border operation, a suicide bomber killed two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan had "conclusive evidence" that the attacks were carried out by militants operating from Afghan soil. He added that Pakistan had repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to prevent armed groups from using their territory to launch attacks against its interests.
Afghanistan's Response and Escalating Tensions
Kabul strongly condemned the air strikes, with Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accusing Pakistani generals of attempting to deflect from their own security failures. The Afghan government has consistently denied harboring militant groups and maintains that it does not allow its territory to be used for cross-border violence.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Border clashes in October left scores dead, and although a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey reduced fighting temporarily, tensions remain high. Both sides continue to trade blame over the escalating violence, with each accusing the other of failing to control militant activities along their shared border.
The situation highlights the fragile security dynamics in the region, where historical grievances and ongoing conflicts contribute to a cycle of retaliation and mistrust. The international community is closely monitoring these developments, as further escalations could have broader implications for regional stability.
