Kabul: Afghanistan on Wednesday accused Pakistan's latest airstrikes in the country of killing 13 civilians, including 11 children, amid renewed tensions between the neighbors. In a statement on the US social media company X, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani military aircraft violated Afghanistan's airspace overnight and bombed civilian homes in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika.
According to Anadolu Agency, the strikes killed 11 children, a woman, and an elderly man, while 14 other women and children were injured. "We strongly condemn this humanitarian crime and act of aggression," Mujahid stated. Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry reported that the charg© d'affaires of the Pakistani Embassy was summoned and issued a strong protest. The ministry emphasized that Kabul considers the defense of its territory and the security of its people a "religious duty," warning that the Pakistani military would "bear all responsibility for the consequences" of such "repeated provocative actions and crimes."
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated earlier that its military killed at least 26 militants in new targeted airstrikes near the Afghan border, targeting militant hideouts in response to recent attacks inside the country. The latest claims arise as relations between Kabul and Islamabad remain strained over security concerns along their shared border. Tensions escalated in February when Pakistan claimed it had targeted locations in eastern Afghanistan, which it described as hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a consortium of several militant groups responsible for a series of attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghan authorities of allowing TTP militants to operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks across the border, allegations that Kabul has consistently denied. The two countries experienced some of their deadliest border clashes in March, with fighting reportedly killing hundreds of civilians, security personnel, and militants on both sides of the border.
The violence subsided after Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on March 18, the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, following diplomatic efforts by Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Subsequently, officials from both countries held week-long talks in the Chinese city of Urumqi under Beijing's mediation. China stated that the two sides had agreed to discuss a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing the issues affecting bilateral relations and improving border stability.