Pakistan Conducts Air Strikes in Afghanistan
On Sunday, Pakistan’s military executed air strikes in Afghanistan, aimed at what it termed as “camps and hideouts” linked to armed groups responsible for multiple recent attacks, including a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad.
Afghan Response
The Afghan Ministry of Defence condemned these attacks, asserting they struck a religious school and residential areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries among civilians, including women and children. According to Afghan sources, at least 17 people lost their lives in Nangarhar.
Ceasefire Under Threat
These strikes pose a risk to the fragile ceasefire previously established between the two countries, following deadly border clashes that claimed numerous lives in October of last year. The ceasefire had been mediated to reduce violence along the border.
Targets of the Strikes
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information disclosed that the military executed “intelligence-based, selective operations” targeting seven camps belonging to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates. The operations also included strikes against an affiliate of the Islamic State group located in the border region.
Claims of Planning from Afghanistan
The ministry claimed it possessed “conclusive evidence” that the recent attacks in Islamabad and northwestern regions were orchestrated by fighters in Afghanistan under the direction of their leadership there. Pakistan has urged the Taliban government in Afghanistan to take action against such groups, but has reported a lack of effective response from Kabul.
Escalating Violence in Pakistan
Hours before the air strikes, a suicide bomber attacked a security convoy in Pakistan’s Bannu district, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers. This incident, along with a previous suicide attack in Islamabad that killed 31 worshippers, highlights a troubling resurgence of violence in Pakistan’s urban areas.
International and Afghan Reactions
In a statement, Pakistan’s Information Ministry called upon the international community to ensure that the Taliban adheres to commitments made under the 2020 agreement with the U.S. The Afghan Ministry of Defence condemned the strikes as a violation of international law and vowed to retaliate, holding the Pakistani military accountable for targeting civilians.
