At least 13 civilians, mostly children, lost their lives in Pakistani military airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar, Khost, and Paktika provinces, as confirmed by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday night, targeted civilian homes, resulting in the deaths of 11 children, one woman, and an elderly man, with 14 other women and children sustaining injuries. The Taliban strongly condemned the actions of the Pakistani forces, labeling the attacks as a humanitarian crime and an act of aggression.
The incident adds to the escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, characterized by repeated exchanges of fire and growing concerns over civilian casualties. Both nations have accused each other of contributing to instability, despite diplomatic and local mediation efforts failing to prevent further escalation. Last month, three individuals were killed and 14 others injured in Pakistan army’s strikes on the Dangam district in Kunar province, according to the Taliban regime.
A Taliban district official reported the destruction of two schools, a clinic, and two mosques in Pakistan’s attack on Dangam, Kunar province. The official highlighted that the Pakistani army, unable to attack directly, has resorted to targeting civilian facilities, resulting in significant civilian and property losses. The escalating violence has led to the destruction of 12 schools since the initiation of Pakistan’s attacks on Kunar province.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) disclosed that between January 1 and March 31 this year, at least 372 Afghan civilians were killed and 397 injured due to cross-border violence involving the Pakistani military and Afghan forces. The Human Rights Service of UNAMA documented over 750 civilian casualties in Afghanistan resulting from cross-border armed violence, with a significant number attributed to airstrikes in February and March.
Most of the civilian casualties occurred following Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab lil-Haq announcement on February 26, with a notable incident on March 16 involving airstrikes by Pakistani military forces on the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul. The UNAMA report highlighted that women and children accounted for a substantial portion of the civilian casualties, with a shift in the demographic breakdown after the Omid Hospital incident.
