Pakistan air strikes in Afghanistan spark Taliban warning of retaliation

Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistani military conducted air strikes in neighbouring Afghanistan late on Tuesday night, targeting hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed group in Paktika province, according to security officials.

While no official statement was issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), sources confirmed to media that the strikes occurred in the Barmal district of Afghanistan, near Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The interim Afghan government, ruled by the Afghan Taliban, also confirmed the attacks but insisted that civilians had been targeted. The Afghan Ministry of Defense stated that several refugees, including women and children, were killed or injured.

“The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem,” Enayatullah Khowarazami, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s defence ministry, wrote on social media platform X. “The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered and considers the defense of its territory an inalienable right,” he added.

The air strikes, the second such incident this year, came just hours after Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadi, met the interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul.

“Met Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi today. Held wide-ranging discussions. Agreed to work together to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote peace and progress in the region,” Sadiq posted on X.

Sadiq’s visit to Kabul, which also included a meeting with Afghan interim interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani on Monday, took place amid deteriorating relations between the two neighbours, and ties are only likely to sink further following the Tuesday night strikes, say analysts.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan government of harbouring armed groups, especially the TTP, which it claims carries out cross-border attacks targeting Pakistani security forces.

Last week, TTP fighters claimed responsibility for killing at least 16 Pakistani soldiers in South Waziristan in one of the deadliest recent attacks on security personnel.