Pakistani airstrikes leave 15 dead in Afghanistan

At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed in a series of Pakistani airstrikes on the Barmal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan, NDTV reported.

The death toll in the attacks is expected to rise as search efforts continue.

The attacks, which took place on the night of December 24, reportedly targeted seven villages, including Laman, where five members of a family were killed.

Local sources claim that Pakistani jets were responsible for the bombings. Reports indicate that the Murg Bazaar village in Barmal was destroyed, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The airstrikes have caused severe civilian casualties and widespread destruction, further escalating tensions in the region. As recovery efforts continue, further investigation is required to confirm details and clarify responsibility for the attacks, reported Khaama Press.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has vowed to retaliate following the airstrike on Barmal, Paktika.

The Ministry stated that defending their land and sovereignty is their legitimate right, and condemned the attack, claiming that “Waziristani refugees” were among those targeted.

While Pakistani officials have not officially confirmed the airstrike, security sources close to the military suggested that the attack was aimed at Taliban hideouts near the border.

This comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly regarding the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has increased its attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan Taliban of providing shelter to them.

Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Defence, denied the Pakistani claims and posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “civilian people, mostly Waziristani refugees,” had been killed in the airstrike.

Khwarazmi added that “several children and other civilians were martyred and wounded” in the attack, though no official casualty figures were provided. Sources reported that at least 15 bodies, including women and children, have been recovered, and the death count is expected to rise as search efforts continue.