Pakistan's Ministry of Information announced that overnight airstrikes hit Helmand and Kunar provinces, destroying three houses and killing nine women and children while wounding eleven others. The strikes reportedly targeted militant hideouts, with the ministry claiming 22 insurgents were eliminated. Afghan officials, including Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, condemned the attack as an act of aggression that violates universally accepted principles.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented over 1,100 civilian casualties from cross-border incidents this year, underscoring the scale of the conflict. Pakistan, which has repeatedly launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan since tensions escalated earlier this year, maintains that the operations aim to neutralize threats from the Pakistani Taliban operating from Afghan territory.
Mujahid dismissed claims that Afghanistan shelters militants, accusing the Pakistani state of provoking the situation. He called the airstrikes a crime that undermines regional stability.
Pakistan's statement emphasized that the campaign would continue at full pace, with the objective of wiping out the militant threat. The Afghan government has warned that any further strikes could trigger a broader escalation.