A series of Pakistani airstrikes on the Barmal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of at least 15 people, including women and children, with the death toll likely to rise. The airstrikes, carried out on December 24, targeted seven villages, including Laman, where five members of a single family were killed.
Local sources reported severe destruction in the affected villages, with Murg Bazaar entirely devastated. Civilian casualties have intensified the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and recovery efforts are underway. The attacks have further escalated tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence condemned the airstrikes and vowed to retaliate, asserting their right to defend Afghanistan’s sovereignty. A spokesperson for the Ministry, Enayatullah Khwarazmi, claimed that the victims included Waziristani refugees displaced by earlier military operations in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
Khwarazmi denied Pakistani allegations that the airstrikes targeted Taliban hideouts, stating that “several children and other civilians were martyred and wounded.” While official casualty figures remain unclear, reports indicate at least 15 fatalities, with more bodies expected to be recovered.
Although Pakistani authorities have not officially confirmed the airstrikes, military sources suggested that the operation targeted Taliban hideouts near the border. These strikes come amid growing tensions over the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP members, who have intensified attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months. The Afghan Taliban denies these allegations, insisting they are not collaborating with the TTP.
The strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, with both sides trading accusations over cross-border militancy. The airstrikes are the latest flashpoint, raising fears of further violence in the already volatile region.
As the situation unfolds, international observers call for restraint and dialogue to prevent an escalation that could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability