Pakistan carried out rare airstrikes against suspected Pakistani Taliban hideouts inside neighboring Afghanistan on Tuesday, targeting a training facility and killing some insurgents, according to four security officials. The strikes occurred in a mountainous area of Paktika province bordering Pakistan.
The Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the airstrikes, saying they targeted civilians, including women and children. At least eight people were killed, with local residents stating that more deaths may occur.
The airstrikes come hours after Pakistani special representative Mohammad Sadiq visited Kabul to discuss trade and ties with Afghanistan. Sadiq met with top officials, including the acting interior minister, to offer condolences over the recent killing of a high-ranking Taliban leader’s uncle.
Pakistan has long accused the Pakistani Taliban of using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan, but Kabul denies this claim. Security experts say Tuesday’s airstrike represents a warning to the Pakistani Taliban that Pakistan will use force against them.
The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have stepped up attacks on Pakistani forces since November 2022. The group has killed dozens of soldiers in recent months, and its leaders are believed to be hiding in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s military has not released further details about the airstrikes or their motivations.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-afghanistan-militant-camp-air-strikes-aac6f1f0aa42f1f3ad88f619b7305724