Pakistan Airstrikes Afghanistan; Taliban Reports 9 Civilians Killed, Including Women and Children

At least nine Afghan civilians, including women and children, were killed and 11 others injured after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces, the Taliban government said on Thursday. Three civilian homes were also destroyed in the strikes.

  

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes hit civilian homes in Chugam in Kunar’s Shultan district and Safar in Helmand’s Garmser district. In a post on X, he said:

 

“Last night, Pakistani aircraft bombed civilian homes in Chugam, Shultan District of Kunar, and Safar, Garmser District of Helmand. Nine Afghan civilians, including women and children, were killed, 11 were injured, and three homes were destroyed.

  

“We condemn this act as an aggression and ​crime in violation of all accepted principles,”.

 

 

 

Pakistan admitted carrying out the airstrikes but said they targeted terrorist hideouts based on credible intelligence. Pakistan’s Information Ministry said the strikes were carried out at two locations and claimed that 22 terrorists were killed.

 

“Targets were destroyed with precision and initial reports suggest killing of twenty two terrorists,” the information ministry said in a statement on X.

 

Islamabad has for long accused Kabul of allowing terrorists to operate from Afghan territory and carry out cross-border attacks against Pakistan. The Taliban government denies the allegations and says terrorism is an internal problem of Pakistan.