Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan targeting militant hideouts linked to recent attacks, including a deadly suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad. The Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the strikes, reporting numerous civilian casualties, including women and children, in Nangarhar province. Afghan sources indicated at least 17 fatalities from these attacks.
This military action threatens a fragile ceasefire established after violent border clashes last year. Pakistan’s officials claimed to possess evidence that recent militant attacks in Islamabad and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region were orchestrated by Afghan-based leaders. They have repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to curb insurgent activities from their territory but assert that no significant action has been taken.
The airstrikes followed a suicide bombing in the Bannu district that killed two soldiers. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information reiterated the need for international pressure on the Taliban to prevent cross-border militant activity.
Afghanistan condemned the strikes as violations of international law, holding Pakistan accountable for targeting civilians and promising a response. Relations between the neighboring countries remain strained, particularly after clashes and accusations of harboring militants.
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