Taliban Condemns Pakistani Airstrikes as 'Cowardly Act of Aggression'
The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has strongly condemned Pakistani airstrikes that killed and wounded dozens of civilians in eastern provinces, describing the cross-border military operation as a 'cowardly act of aggression.' According to Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the aerial bombardment targeted the eastern provinces of Paktika, Paktia, and Kunar on Sunday, June 28, 2026. In a statement on social media platform X, Mujahid censured the unprovoked military operation conducted by Islamabad, which hit residential areas.
Details of the Attack: 29 Killed in Border Provinces
Further details emerging from the region indicate that Pakistan carried out these strikes along its border with Afghanistan, resulting in the killing of 29 individuals, as reported by Dawn. The strikes occurred less than three weeks after Pakistan's military launched similar attacks targeting militant hideouts inside Afghan territory. The Taliban administration has not yet provided a full casualty count, but Mujahid emphasized that the strikes caused significant devastation among civilians.
Pakistan's Justification: Retaliation for Terrorist Incidents
Seeking to justify the cross-border assault, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated on Sunday night that Islamabad's security forces had executed a 'well planned intelligence based ground operation' alongside aerial strikes in the frontier zone. Tarar claimed the operation was a retaliatory measure following multiple recent terrorist incidents inside Pakistan, specifically citing attacks targeting security camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and a paramilitary camp in Karachi.
Karachi Attack: Catalyst for Escalation
The regional friction had sharply intensified after a Saturday night assault on the provincial headquarters of the Pakistan Sindh Rangers in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar locality. The Sindh police chief told Dawn that three Pakistani paramilitary personnel and three attackers were killed after militants rammed the main gate with a vehicle, triggering heavy gunfire and explosions. An affiliate of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the Karachi garrison breach, according to Al Jazeera. However, rather than containing the local threat, Islamabad chose to project its military power externally into Afghanistan, hitting civilian pockets instead.
Escalating Tensions: A Cycle of Violence
This latest unilateral move by Pakistan is projected to severely aggravate the deep-seated tensions persisting between Islamabad and Kabul. The deadly bombardment shattered a fragile one-month period of relative stability, which had followed what Islamabad had previously characterized as an 'open war' between the neighboring nations. Since February, border skirmishes have claimed hundreds of lives, a violent cycle that originally intensified after Afghanistan was forced to execute retaliatory strikes in response to earlier air raids.
Failed Peace Efforts: China-Brokered Talks Undermined
Multiple phases of internationally mediated peace negotiations have repeatedly failed to secure a sustainable ceasefire due to recurring hostilities. Although China stepped in to host diplomatic talks between the two nations in April, subsequently announcing that Islamabad and Kabul had committed to curbing further military hostilities and exploring a peaceful resolution, Pakistan's latest assault has thoroughly shattered those bilateral understandings. The international community has yet to respond to the renewed violence, but the Taliban government has warned of consequences.
Taliban's Response: Defending Territory and People
Defending its territory and people, the Taliban administration has exposed the severe violence inflicted by Pakistan, asserting that Islamabad deployed its air force to carry out targeted airstrikes within eastern Afghanistan. Mujahid strongly censured the state-sponsored military action, calling it a 'cowardly act of aggression.' The Taliban has not announced any immediate retaliatory measures, but the incident is likely to fuel further instability in the region.
