Pakistani Airstrikes in Afghanistan Kill 36 Civilians, Injure 163 Others

KABUL (IANS): Pakistani military airstrikes killed at least 36 civilians—including women and children—and injured 163 others across Afghanistan’s Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces, Taliban Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat confirmed on Monday.

Citing field reports, Fitrat stated that Pakistani forces launched the attacks late Sunday night, targeting the Gayan district of Paktika, the Tsamkani district of Paktia, and the Manogai district of Kunar. The strikes destroyed three residential houses, causing heavy casualties.

According to the deputy spokesperson, Pakistani jets first bombed a civilian residence in Mandokhail village within the Tsamkani district, killing an elderly man and a child and injuring several family members.

“When local residents gathered to conduct rescue operations, the jets bombed the area a second time, killing 28 villagers and injuring 158 others,” Fitrat alleged.

Fitrat added that in Walust village of the Gayan district, another strike hit a civilian home, killing six individuals, mostly women and children. In the Barolo village of the Manogai district, the airstrike struck a third residential property, causing significant structural damage.

Taliban Condemns “Cowardly Act of Aggression”

Earlier on Monday, chief Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid strongly condemned the airstrikes, labelling them a “cowardly act of aggression.”

“Last night, the Pakistani military once again carried out airstrikes on civilian areas… resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians, including women and children,” Mujahid said in a statement. “We strongly condemn this cowardly act of aggression and consider it a crime and an act of brutality.”

Border Tensions Escalate

The latest bombardment follows months of escalating border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, marked by repeated exchanges of cross-border fire and rising civilian casualties.

Just weeks earlier, on June 9, Pakistani airstrikes struck Kunar, Khost, and Paktika provinces, killing 11 children, a woman, and an elderly man, while injuring 14 other women and children. Following that incident, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires in Kabul to lodge a strong protest against the violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and the targeting of residential homes.