Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry has condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on its territory, alleging civilian casualties and terming the action a blatant violation of sovereignty. The strikes come amid rising Pakistani Taliban insurgency along the border.
BY PC Bureau
In an unprecedented move, Pakistan launched airstrikes targeting suspected Pakistani Taliban (TTP) hideouts in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on Tuesday. The strikes, which reportedly dismantled a training camp and killed several insurgents, were carried out in the mountainous border region, according to four Pakistani security officials. These officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to confirm whether the strikes penetrated deep into Afghan territory.
Aftermath of precision airstrikes conducted by the Pakistan Air Force, eliminating over 40+ TTP terrorists and crippling militant infrastructure in Paktika province Afghanistan.
A significant step taken by Pakistan Armed forces in counter-terrorism efforts reaffirming their… pic.twitter.com/x6AZgOx5JB
— Global Defense Agency (@Defense_GDA) December 24, 2024
This marks the second such operation by Pakistan this year, following intelligence-based strikes in March against alleged TTP bases in Afghanistan. Islamabad has frequently accused Kabul of harboring TTP militants, who have intensified cross-border attacks in recent months.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry condemned the strikes, claiming they targeted civilians, including women and children, many of whom were refugees from Pakistan’s Waziristan region. “The Islamic Emirate considers this a blatant act of aggression and a violation of international principles,” the ministry stated, warning that the attack would not go unanswered.
Warning graphics ⚠️
Innocent pashtun children were killed in Pakita by Pakistani bombardment today, Pakistan air force bombed several houses of Pashtun refugees in Afghanistan.#WarCrimesOfPakistanArmy pic.twitter.com/mwZmHes5G8
— Yasmeen| یاسمین ⚡ (@Yasmeen_Baluch1) December 24, 2024
Local reports suggest at least eight casualties, including women and children, with fears that the death toll could rise. The Afghan Defense Ministry also took to the social media platform X, asserting Afghanistan’s sovereign right to defend its territory and calling for an end to unilateral measures by Pakistan.
The airstrikes coincided with a visit to Kabul by Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq. Sadiq held discussions with Afghan leaders, including acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, on improving bilateral relations and addressing regional challenges. He also offered condolences over the death of Khalil Haqqani, a senior Afghan official killed in a recent suicide bombing attributed to an Islamic State affiliate.
Security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali described the strikes as a calculated warning to the TTP, emphasizing Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorist threats on both sides of the border. “Pakistan carefully targeted terrorist bases while avoiding civilian casualties,” he said, calling the operation a demonstration of Islamabad’s commitment to counterterrorism.
The TTP, emboldened by the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, has stepped up attacks in Pakistan, particularly after ending a ceasefire with Islamabad in November 2022. These attacks have resulted in significant casualties among Pakistani soldiers and police.
Tuesday’s airstrikes underscore the growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both nations struggling to manage insurgencies and escalating mutual distrust. The operation signals Islamabad’s readiness to take decisive action against the TTP, even as it risks further straining relations with Kabul.
