Pakistan airstrikes on Afghanistan kill 46; Taliban calls it 'cowardly act'

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's air strikes on Wednesday in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province killed 46 people which primarily included women and children, said a Taliban spokesman.

“Last night (Tuesday), Pakistan bombarded four points in the Barmal district of Paktika province. The total number of dead is 46, most of whom were children and women,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP, adding that six others, mostly children, were wounded.

The Taliban's defence ministry condemned the strikes, describing them as “barbaric” and “clear aggression.” A statement read: “The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered, but rather considers the defence of its territory and sovereignty to be its inalienable right.”

Local residents reported devastating losses. Maleel, a resident of Barmal, said, “The bombardment hit two or three houses. In one house, 18 people were killed, the whole family lost their lives.” He added that three people were killed in another house, with several wounded taken to hospital.

Similar Pakistani air attacks in March reportedly killed eight civilians, leading to border skirmishes. Tensions have grown since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of harbouring militants responsible for attacks on Pakistani soil. Kabul has denied the allegations.

The latest strike follows a recent raid claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) near the Afghan border, which Islamabad intelligence said killed 16 soldiers.

On the same day as the air strikes, high-ranking Taliban officials were meeting with Pakistan's special envoy for Afghanistan in Kabul. Pakistani authorities have yet to comment on the incident.