Pakistan has confirmed carrying out surprise air strikes in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday (10 June), claiming 26 militants were killed. Afghanistan had earlier said 13 civilians — most of them women and children — were killed in the Pakistani strikes, according to the Khama Press news agency.
The Pakistani government said 26 members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed in the air strikes, describing them as intelligence-based operations near the border targeting militant installations. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes in Afghanistan were a response to a series of attacks inside Islamabad, and that four locations were targeted — including a training centre, hideouts, an ammunition depot and installations linked to two TTP commanders.
Earlier, the Taliban alleged that Pakistani forces had bombed Kunar, Khost and Paktika provinces. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said 13 civilians were killed in the strikes — 11 of them children, one woman and one elderly man — with 14 more wounded. While confirming the strikes, Pakistan made no direct comment on the Taliban’s claims of civilian casualties. Taliban officials condemned the strikes as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and accused Pakistan of targeting residential areas. Pakistan and Afghanistan have traded attacks in recent months, driving relations to a low; the report said the latest strikes have again pushed tensions between Islamabad and Kabul to a peak.
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