Kabul, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : The Taliban has strongly condemned the recent Pakistani airstrikes that targeted areas in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a warning, stating that these attacks would be met with an “appropriate response.”
Mujahid claimed that the airstrikes on Monday aimed at Afghan territories and civilians. He reported that in Kunar, one woman and two men were killed, while two women and two men sustained injuries. He further noted that the air raid in Paktika struck a local shop and a home.
Accusing the Pakistani military leadership of diverting attention from security failures within their own borders, Mujahid emphasized that such actions were a continuation of previous offenses. He stated on X, “Last night, the Pakistani army bombed civilian areas in Kunar and Paktika. One woman and two men were killed in Kunar, and two women and two men were injured. These are all local citizens. In Paktika, a house and a local shop were bombed, but there were no reports of casualties.”
The Taliban condemned the attack, viewing it as another crime and reaffirming that Afghans would respond appropriately. These latest strikes come amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both sides experiencing multiple exchanges of gunfire, raising concerns over civilian casualties.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of failing to prevent armed groups, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from operating from Afghan territory. However, Afghan officials have consistently dismissed these claims.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported on July 28 that between April 1 and June 30, 57 people were killed and 342 injured due to cross-border armed violence. The report indicated that airstrikes and ground battles were the primary causes of civilian casualties, attributing all civilian deaths during this period to Pakistani security forces.
According to UNAMA’s updates on civilian casualties in Afghanistan from April to June, 26 children lost their lives, and 86 were injured. Additionally, six women were killed, with 34 others injured.
Leave a Comment