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- October 13, 202618°
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13 Killed in Pakistan's Airstrikes on Afghanistan as Border Tensions Escalate
Afghanistan announced that 13 people were killed and 14 injured in Pakistan's airstrikes on the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Paktika. Among the dead were 11 children, a woman, and an elderly man.
Afghanistan announced that at least 13 people were killed and 14 injured in new airstrikes by Pakistan on its territory. According to officials, among the dead were 11 children, a woman, and an elderly man.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Pakistani warplanes targeted multiple points in the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Paktika. It was reported that no new clashes occurred along the border line in the hours following the attacks and the situation remained calm.
Clash at the border a day earlier
The airstrikes came a day after militants affiliated with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, attacked a security post in the Hasan Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border. Pakistan's Ministry of Interior reported that the attack triggered a fierce clash, resulting in the deaths of six personnel from the Federal Constabulary and several injuries.
It was stated that Pakistani security forces killed eight attackers and prevented the capture of the security post. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attended the funeral prayer held in Peshawar for the fallen personnel and paid tribute to them.
Naqvi said losses would not be forgotten and vowed to intensify operations against groups threatening the country's security.
Months-long tension at the border
The recent attacks are the latest in a series of cross-border clashes between the two countries since late February. The current cycle of tension reportedly began when Afghanistan targeted areas across the border in response to Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghan territory.
Pakistan declared itself in open conflict with Afghanistan following an increase in militant attacks in February. In March, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing a drug treatment center in Kabul, claiming hundreds of deaths. Pakistan denied the accusation, stating that no civilian targets were hit and that a munitions depot was the actual target.
Efforts to reduce tensions have so far failed. Earlier this year, peace talks were held between Afghan and Pakistani officials in Urumqi, China, after which both sides agreed to avoid further escalation and consider diplomatic solutions.
Pakistani officials said China and some other friendly countries continue to encourage dialogue to reach a lasting peace agreement between the two neighbors.
Islamabad's main concern: TTP
Security experts say Pakistan's primary concern is the claim that the TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) launches attacks on Pakistani targets from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Islamabad accuses the Taliban government in Afghanistan of harboring these groups, a claim Kabul consistently denies.
Masood Khan, a security analyst based in Islamabad, said that for tensions to ease, it is critical that Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada sincerely enforces orders for the TTP to stop attacks on Pakistan. Khan emphasized that this directive must be fully implemented.
Following the withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021, the Afghan Taliban, which returned to Kabul and has ideological and historical ties with the Pakistani Taliban, are considered separate organizations. Nevertheless, violence along the border has long strained relations between the two countries.
The economic impact of the conflict is also worsening. The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been closed to bilateral trade since October, disrupting commerce and leaving thousands of passengers and traders stranded on both sides.
As civilian casualties rise and diplomatic efforts fail, there are growing concerns that the border crisis will deepen further and destabilize regional stability.
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