Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghanistan late on Monday night, killing at least 10 civilians, including nine children and a woman, the Taliban administration claimed. A dangerous increase in friction between the two neighbours, this cross-border attack has come just hours after a major militant assault on a security installation in Pakistan’s Peshawar.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid strongly condemned the strikes and warned about the consequences of further cross-border violations.
Civilian Home Struck in Khost Province
The deadly strike targeted a residential area in the eastern border regions, with the Taliban confirming the high civilian toll via social media.
Victims’ Details: Mujahid added that the strike hit the house of a local resident in the Mughalgay area of the Gerbaz district in Khost province. Five boys, four girls, and one woman were killed. The home was completely destroyed.
Other Casualties: Four more civilians were reported wounded in separate Pakistani air strikes that hit the border regions of Kunar and Paktika.
Taliban Statement: Mujahid described the Pakistani forces as “invasion forces” and condemned the bombing, saying the attack targeted a civilian dwelling.
Strikes Follow Peshawar Security Assault
The Pakistani strikes are presumed to be the immediate act of retaliation for a major security breach in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan hours earlier, underscoring the high-stakes nature of the border conflict.
Attack on frontier constabulary: Gunmen and suicide bombers stormed the headquarters of Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Peshawar, a major security installation near a military cantonment area.
Details of assault: The attack began when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance, enabling a second attacker to gain access to the compound. At least three people were killed, and roads around the area were sealed as security forces battled the remaining attackers deep into the night.
Mounting concerns: The incident adds to the list of Pakistan’s mounting internal security concerns, which have turned grave amid strained ties with Kabul.
Escalation Rooted In TTP And Failed Talks
The recent violence is part of a wider, long-running crisis anchored in cross-border militant activity that has frayed diplomatic efforts.
Islamabad Bombing Link: A suicide bombing in Islamabad earlier this month killed 12 people. The Pakistan Taliban, or TTP, which shares ideological roots with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, claimed responsibility. Islamabad then accused the TTP leadership of having directed the capital blast “step by step” from bases across the Afghan border.
Diplomacy Collapse: The latest bloodshed comes after the collapse of several rounds of talks to ease border tensions that concluded without resolution last month.
New Delhi-Kabul Ties Strengthen Amid Regional Conflict
The Taliban administration has indicated, amidst an increasing conflict with Islamabad, a shift towards strengthening economic ties with India.
Economic Reset: Afghanistan’s Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi concluded his visit to New Delhi this week, announcing a possible reset in economic engagement that had stalled since the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Speaking on Monday, Azizi said the two countries were looking to “reactivate historic relations” in trade and investment with technical teams already exploring avenues of cooperation to expand market access.
