Escalating Tensions as Pakistan Launches New Airstrikes on Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan (AP) — Pakistan conducted new airstrikes on Afghan territory early Wednesday, breaking a month of relative calm. The strikes followed Islamabad’s prior claims of an ‘open war’ between the neighbors that international efforts have failed to resolve.

Afghanistan reported that the attacks targeted the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Paktika. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that 13 people were killed, including 11 children, a woman, and an elderly man, while 14 other civilians were injured.

Pakistan confirmed the strikes, claiming they aimed at militant bases linked to recent attacks in Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of 26 militants. Conflicting casualty figures from both sides are common.

Since February, the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has claimed hundreds of lives. It began when Afghanistan retaliated against Pakistani airstrikes on its soil. Despite several rounds of internationally mediated peace talks, a lasting truce remains elusive.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militants responsible for deadly attacks within its borders, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP is allied with the Afghan Taliban, which has controlled Afghanistan since 2021 after the chaotic U.S. troop withdrawal. Kabul denies these accusations.

Funerals Held for Victims

In Khost, hundreds attended the funerals of nine people, including seven children aged 3 to 15, a woman, and a man. This family died when their house collapsed during the airstrike, according to relatives.

In my uncle’s family, only two of his daughters survived. The rest of his entire family was martyred, said Talib Gul, a mourner.

He added that a second strike damaged his brother’s house, killing livestock crucial to local livelihoods. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires to protest the violation of Afghan airspace and civilian attacks.

Pakistan’s Justification

Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, stated that the strikes targeted ‘hideouts and safe havens’ for those responsible for attacks by the TTP and other insurgents in Pakistan. Four targets were reportedly destroyed, including a training center and an ammunition cache.

Tarar affirmed that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations would continue robustly to eliminate ‘foreign-sponsored terrorism.’ The information ministry dismissed Afghan reports of civilian casualties as propaganda.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

The latest strikes occurred a day after suspected Pakistani Taliban militants attacked a security post in Pakistan’s Hasan Khel area, killing six members of the Federal Constabulary. Pakistan’s interior ministry reported the deaths of eight attackers during the gunfight.

The border experienced calm after Wednesday’s strikes. Historically, Kabul has retaliated by targeting Pakistani posts soon after such events. The border has remained closed since October, affecting trade and movement.

In February, Pakistan declared an ‘open war’ with Afghanistan following increased militant attacks. Afghanistan alleged a March strike on a Kabul drug treatment center killed over 400, a claim Pakistan disputes.

In an attempt to mediate, China hosted peace talks between the nations, leading to a non-escalation agreement. However, tensions persist, and efforts to reach a lasting peace continue under international encouragement.

Masood Khan, a security analyst in Islamabad, suggested that enforcing a decree by Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, ordering the TTP to cease attacks on Pakistan, could resolve tensions.

The border closure has disrupted trade and stranded thousands, with no resolution in sight.

Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report.