Pakistan Launches Attack on Afghanistan; 13 Dead, 11 Children Among Victims

Afghanistan on Wednesday accused Pakistan of carrying out fresh airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 13 people and injuring 14 others, as tensions between the neighboring countries continue to escalate, Associated Press reported.

The strikes targeted the provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika in which 11 children, one woman and one elderly man were killed, the news agency reported citing Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

However, Pakistan is yet to react to the claims made by Afghanistan.

The reported attacks came a day after suspected militants from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked a security post in the Hasan Khel area of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border. Pakistan's Interior Ministry said six members of the Federal Constabulary were killed and several others wounded during the ensuing gunbattle.

Local authorities said security forces repelled the assault and killed eight attackers. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later attended funeral prayers for the slain personnel in Peshawar and pledged to intensify operations against militant groups threatening the country's security.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of providing safe haven to militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, particularly the TTP. While the TTP is distinct from the Afghan Taliban, the two groups are considered ideological allies. Afghan authorities have consistently denied Pakistan's allegations.

Cross-border hostilities have intensified since late February, when Afghanistan reportedly launched retaliatory attacks following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory. Pakistan subsequently declared that it was in an open conflict with Afghanistan, citing a rise in militant attacks against civilians and security personnel.

Afghanistan has also accused Pakistan of conducting an airstrike in Kabul in March that allegedly hit a drug-treatment center, resulting in more than 400 deaths. The reported casualty figure has not been independently verified. Pakistan rejected the allegation, maintaining that its forces targeted an ammunition depot and did not strike civilian facilities.

The latest developments follow diplomatic efforts earlier this year aimed at reducing tensions. China hosted talks between Pakistani and Afghan officials in Urumqi, where both sides reportedly agreed to avoid further escalation and explore mechanisms for resolving disputes.

Separately, unrest has continued in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where security forces have faced criticism over their handling of protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a group advocating economic reforms.

According to reports, Pakistani authorities designated the JAAC as a banned organization under anti-terrorism laws. Tensions reportedly increased following the killing of JAAC leader Shahzaib Habib. While official figures placed the death toll from recent clashes at 11, other claims alleged that 26 people were killed, including children and pregnant women. These figures could not be independently verified.

The region has witnessed repeated episodes of unrest. In September last year, nine people, including three police officers, were killed during violent confrontations between protesters and security forces. The federal government subsequently dispatched a negotiating team to Muzaffarabad to engage with JAAC representatives, though the talks ended without a breakthrough.

The situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and in Pakistan-administered Kashmir remains volatile, with concerns growing over the potential for further violence and instability.

With inputs from agencies