11 Children Among 13 Killed in Pakistani Strikes on Afghanistan

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Kabul: At least 13 people, including 11 children, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials, marking the deadliest cross-border attack in weeks after a period of relative calm.

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft struck civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika overnight, killing 11 children, one woman and one elderly man and injuring 14 others. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of violating its airspace and targeting residential areas.

In Khost province, a strike on a house in the Spera district reportedly killed nine people and wounded 10 others. Residents in neighbouring Paktika province said another attack in Barmal district killed three civilians, including children.

Pakistan had not officially commented on the strikes at the time of reporting. However, Islamabad has repeatedly said its operations in Afghanistan target militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan and that civilians are not deliberately targeted.

The attacks come amid renewed tensions between the neighbouring countries, whose relations have deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Afghan authorities reject the allegations and accuse Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty.

Pic Credit: AFP