A series of Pakistani airstrikes targeting alleged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktika province has left at least 15 people dead, including women and children, according to Afghan officials and local media. The strikes, carried out late Tuesday night, have drawn sharp condemnation from the Taliban government in Kabul, which has vowed retaliation and accused Islamabad of indiscriminate violence.
The airstrikes reportedly targeted the Barmal district, striking multiple villages and causing significant destruction. Local sources and media outlets such as Khaama Press said that at least 15 bodies, including those of women and children, have been recovered from the rubble. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Among the affected villages, Murg Bazaar and Laman were hit particularly hard, with reports of entire families killed. Enayatullah Khwarazmi, spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Defense, condemned the attack, stating, “Several children and other civilians were martyred and wounded.” He added that the majority of victims were refugees from Pakistan’s Waziristan region, who had fled military operations and sought shelter in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Perspective
Unnamed Pakistani security officials told international news agencies that the strikes targeted TTP hideouts and dismantled a key training facility. They described the operation as a response to the escalating threat posed by the militant group, which Islamabad accuses of using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. However, no official statement has been released by Pakistan’s military or government.
The strikes mark the second such operation since March, when Pakistan carried out similar attacks in Afghanistan’s border regions. Islamabad maintains that Afghan authorities have failed to prevent TTP fighters from regrouping and using Afghan soil for cross-border militancy—a claim denied by Kabul.
Afghan Government’s Reaction
The Taliban government, which has faced mounting criticism for allegedly harboring TTP fighters, strongly condemned the airstrikes. The Afghan Ministry of Defense described the attacks as “brutal” and a violation of international norms. “The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered,” the ministry declared in a statement, asserting its right to defend Afghan sovereignty.
Khwarazmi reiterated these sentiments on social media, accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians and warning of potential retaliation.
Regional Implications
The strikes come amid deteriorating relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, two neighbors already grappling with mutual distrust and conflicting security priorities. Since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021, the TTP has grown increasingly emboldened, intensifying its attacks on Pakistani forces. In recent months, the group has killed dozens of Pakistani soldiers in cross-border operations.
Afghanistan’s border provinces have become a flashpoint, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of sheltering TTP fighters and the Taliban denying such claims. The airstrikes risk further inflaming tensions, complicating efforts to address regional security and humanitarian challenges.
The strikes have also deepened the humanitarian crisis in Paktika province, where thousands of displaced families from Pakistan’s tribal areas have sought refuge. Local officials report widespread destruction in the targeted villages, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable communities already struggling with limited resources.
“Families have been torn apart, homes destroyed, and survivors are in desperate need of assistance,” a local aid worker in Barmal told Al Jazeera. “This region cannot endure more violence.”
Diplomatic Backdrop
The airstrikes occurred just hours after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, visited Kabul to discuss bilateral trade, security, and regional stability. Sadiq met with high-ranking Taliban officials, including acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, in what was seen as an attempt to ease tensions. However, the strikes have overshadowed these diplomatic efforts, raising questions about their timing and potential repercussions.
Growing Insecurity
The escalation underscores the fragility of the region’s security dynamics. The TTP, which unilaterally ended a ceasefire with Pakistan in late 2022, has intensified its operations, while Pakistan has ramped up military responses, including cross-border strikes.
Security analysts warn that the increasing militarization of the conflict risks destabilizing both nations. “These strikes are part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to counter the TTP,” said Kabul-based analyst Rahmatullah Wardak. “But civilian casualties only fuel anger and mistrust, making it harder to find a sustainable solution.”
As the dust settles in Paktika, the region braces for potential retaliation from the Taliban and further cross-border violence. With diplomatic channels strained and civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict, hopes for peace appear increasingly elusive.
