Many killed in Pak’s airstrikes targeting residential areas in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Many people were killed in airstrikes by the Pakistani Air Force targeting residential areas along the Afghan border. Pakistan targeted Afghanistan-based terrorist groups responsible for recent suicide bombings in Pakistan. Afghan officials confirmed that many people were killed and many injured.

‘Last night, they bombed our civilian compatriots in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, martyring and wounding dozens of people, including women and children," Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X.

Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, in a post on X, confirmed the attack, citing three attacks since the start of Ramadan last week. ‘Pakistan has carried out intelligence-based selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates in the border region,’ he said.

International observers believe that Pakistan's unexpected military move has the potential to further worsen relations between the two countries. Pakistan and Afghanistan have already had disputes over cross-border terrorism. Pakistan is adamant in its claim that the source of attacks targeting residential areas and soldiers in Pakistan is across the border.

Meanwhile, according to a report by Tolo News, Pakistan's Air Force jets targeted a religious studies center in the Bermal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan and carried out multiple airstrikes in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province. Attacks were reported in Arghun in Paktika and in Behzod and Ghani Khel districts in Nangarhar.