Pakistan has conducted a series of air strikes inside Afghanistan, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens more, according to Afghan officials. The strikes, which took place early on Monday in the border provinces of Khost and Kunar, targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts used by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Afghan authorities condemned the action as a violation of sovereignty, warning that it risked destabilising the region.
The military operation, involving fighter jets and drones, struck several locations in the Spera district of Khost and the Dangam area of Kunar. Local officials reported that at least 15 civilians, including women and children, were among the dead. Pakistan’s foreign office defended the strikes as a necessary measure to combat cross-border terrorism, stating that the TTP had been operating with impunity from Afghan soil.
This is not the first time Pakistan has conducted such strikes. The country has long accused the Taliban administration in Kabul of harbouring TTP fighters, who have carried out deadly attacks against Pakistani security forces. However, Monday’s assault is the most significant since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, and it threatens to unravel the fragile calm along the Durand Line.
The Afghan Taliban, in a statement, warned of retaliatory action, with Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman, calling the strikes “a clear act of aggression against the territorial integrity of Afghanistan”. He said that the Islamic Emirate would not allow any country to violate Afghan soil. Neighbouring nations, including China and Iran, have urged restraint on both sides.
Analysts argue that the escalating cross-border violence could undo years of diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said that it had shared evidence of TTP activities with Afghan authorities but had received no response. As tensions simmer, the international community is watching closely for further escalation.
Pakistan’s air strikes come at a time of heightened insecurity in the region. The TTP, an umbrella group of militant factions, has stepped up attacks since the Afghan Taliban’s takeover, emboldened by the Taliban’s failure to contain them. The strikes also risk alienating Islamabad from Kabul, potentially jeopardising Chinese investments under the Belt and Road Initiative that rely on regional stability.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry summoned the Pakistani chargé d’affaires to protest the attack. Meanwhile, the United Nations called for immediate de-escalation. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that the strikes had damaged several homes and a mosque, raising concerns about civilian casualties.
This incident marks a dangerous moment in the already fraught relationship between the two neighbours. Pakistan insists that its actions are defensive, but the Taliban administration’s response underscores the high stakes. As the situation develops, the risk of a broader conflict looms, threatening to draw in other regional powers.
The coming days will be crucial. Pakistan has made clear it will continue to pursue TTP militants wherever they are, while the Taliban regime is under domestic pressure to respond forcefully. International mediators, notably China and the United States, may need to step in to prevent a spiral into open warfare. For now, the region holds its breath.
