At least 28 civilians, including women and children, were killed and dozens injured in Pakistani airstrikes along the Afghanistan border on Sunday according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The strikes, which targeted the Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar have sharply escalated tensions between the neighboring nations. While the Afghan Taliban government reported civilian casualties as high as 38 dead and over 160 injured, Islamabad claims the operation successfully eliminated 29 militants.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated the military action targeted hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its splinter faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. The airstrikes were launched in direct retaliation for a suicide attack on a paramilitary headquarters in Karachi on Saturday that killed three Pakistani troops.
The heaviest civilian toll occurred in Paktia’s Samkani district, where a residential home was bombed. Witnesses described horrific scenes noting that consecutive strikes hit the area while people slept and as neighbors rushed to help the wounded.
Kabul strongly condemned the bombardment. Afghan Deputy Information Minister Mohajer Farahi described the assault as a "cowardly act" and warned of retaliation. Conversely Islamabad maintains it strictly targets militant safe havens accusing Kabul of harboring terrorists who plot attacks on Pakistani soil a claim the Afghan Taliban denies.
This latest escalation shatters a fragile ceasefire agreed upon last October, highlighting the rapidly deteriorating security situation along the volatile border.
