Pakistan: Pakistan said it carried out early Sunday airstrikes along the border inside Afghanistan, targeting hideouts of Pakistani militants blamed for recent attacks in Pakistan, while the Afghan Red Crescent reported at least 18 people killed.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the strikes reportedly hit various civilian areas in the eastern Afghan provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, including a religious madrassa and several homes, as reported by Afghanistan’s defense ministry. Kabul condemned the attacks as a violation of its airspace and sovereignty.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the strikes killed and wounded dozens, including women and children. The Afghan Red Crescent Society later confirmed 18 deaths and several injuries in Nangarhar.
Following the strikes, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul and lodged a formal protest, warning that Islamabad would bear responsibility for any consequences.
Villagers in the affected areas were seen clearing rubble and preparing funerals. Local elder Habib Ullah mentioned that those killed were civilians with no links to militant groups.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar noted that the military conducted ‘intelligence-based, selective operations’ against seven camps of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates, as well as an affiliate of the Islamic State. He added that Pakistan remains committed to regional stability but prioritizes the safety of its citizens.
The strikes came hours after a suicide bombing targeted a security convoy in Pakistan’s Bannu district, killing two soldiers. A similar attack in Bajaur last week killed 11 soldiers and a child, with authorities alleging the attacker was an Afghan national.
Islamabad has long accused Kabul of allowing TTP militants to operate from Afghan soil, a claim denied by both the Taliban administration and the group itself.
Security analysts warned that the latest strikes could escalate tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite previous ceasefire efforts mediated by regional actors. Relations between the two neighbors have remained strained following deadly border clashes and stalled talks in recent months.