Pakistan Strikes Afghanistan, Claims Targeting Militants; Taliban Reports Civilian Casualties

(CNA Kabul, June 29, Combined Reports) Pakistan launched airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, resulting in dozens of deaths. The Pakistani government stated today that the attacks targeted militants; however, the Afghan Taliban government reported 36 civilian deaths.

According to Agence France-Presse, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been tense since the Taliban government regained power in Afghanistan in 2021. There were armed clashes for several weeks in February of this year, and these airstrikes represent the latest escalation in violent conflict between the two countries.

Pakistan's Minister of Information, Attaullah Tarar, stated that the military operation killed 25 militants and primarily targeted an organization responsible for a deadly attack in Karachi last weekend, despite repeated denials by Afghan authorities that militants are harbored within their territory.

The Afghan Taliban government reported that three eastern provinces were subjected to airstrikes, causing a total of 36 civilian deaths and injuring 163 others.

Taliban government deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said, "When local residents gathered in Paktia Province to conduct rescue operations, the area was bombed again." (Translator: Kao Chao-fen / Editor: Chen Cheng-chien) 1150629

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