Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan leave 46 dead, sparking regional tensions

Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province have left 46 people dead, including a significant number of women and children, according to Afghan Taliban officials. The incident, which occurred in the Barmal district, has escalated tensions between the neighbouring countries, drawing condemnation from Afghanistan and international concern over the civilian toll.

Civilian Casualties Raise Alarms in Paktika Province

Hamdullah Fitrat, a deputy spokesman for Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, confirmed the strikes, which reportedly targeted four locations. He described the majority of the victims as women and children, along with six others sustaining injuries. Local residents corroborated the scale of the devastation, with eyewitness accounts indicating that civilians bore the brunt of the attack. Many of the injured were rushed to nearby medical facilities, though the extent of their injuries remains unclear.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group with longstanding ties to the Afghan Taliban, claimed that among the 50 individuals killed were unarmed refugees who had fled into Afghanistan to escape military operations in Pakistan. The group described the strikes as an unjustifiable targeting of civilians.

Pakistan’s Strategic Intent Remains Unclear

Pakistani military officials have not publicly addressed the operation, though anonymous security sources suggested that the strikes were aimed at dismantling a training camp operated by insurgents in Paktika. These actions come amid growing accusations from Islamabad that Afghanistan’s Taliban government is failing to curb militant activity across its borders.

The airstrikes also follow a weekend attack on a Pakistani checkpoint by suspected militants, which left at least 16 Pakistani soldiers dead. Officials in Pakistan have expressed frustration over what they see as Afghanistan’s inadequate measures to prevent cross-border terrorism.

Afghanistan’s Response and Diplomatic Fallout

The Afghan Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a blatant violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty. In a formal protest, the ministry summoned Pakistan’s envoy, warning that such actions jeopardise already fragile bilateral relations. Afghan defence officials promised retaliatory measures, underscoring the deteriorating trust between the two nations.

While the border region has remained calm in the immediate aftermath of the airstrikes, experts warn that the incident could prompt retaliatory attacks, particularly by the TTP, further destabilising the region.

International Community Expresses Concern

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued a statement expressing deep concern over the reports of civilian casualties, emphasising that women and children should never become targets in military operations. The UN is working to verify the details of the attack and assess its impact.

These airstrikes are the second such instance in recent months, with similar operations taking place earlier this year following attacks on Pakistani soil. Analysts note that the increasing frequency of cross-border military actions highlights the complexities of countering militancy in a region where national boundaries often blur.

Tensions Along a Fragile Border

The shared border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, historically a hotbed of militant activity, remains a critical security concern. While Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring militants, the Taliban government has denied facilitating cross-border attacks. Instead, they argue that such accusations serve as a pretext for military aggression.

With civilian lives increasingly at risk, international observers are urging both nations to engage in dialogue and take coordinated steps to address the root causes of militancy. However, the deep-seated mistrust and divergent strategic priorities of the two governments complicate efforts to achieve sustainable peace.