PESHAWAR, Pakistan — On Tuesday, Pakistan carried out unusual airstrikes targeting several alleged hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban situated in neighboring Afghanistan. This operation resulted in the destruction of a training facility and the deaths of some insurgents, according to four security officials who chose to remain anonymous as they were not permitted to speak publicly regarding the matter.
These airstrikes occurred in a mountainous region of Paktika province, which borders Pakistan. The specifics of the strike, including the reach and method of the attacks, remain unclear. There has been no immediate response from a spokesman for Pakistan’s military with additional information on the operation. Notably, this is the second instance of such an assault on presumed Pakistani Taliban locations since March, when Pakistan reported conducting intelligence-led strikes in the border regions within Afghanistan.
In response to the airstrikes, the Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the actions taken by Pakistan, asserting that the bombing primarily affected civilians, including women and children. They claimed many victims were refugees from the Waziristan area. The ministry stated, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regards this as a brutal act against fundamental international principles and a blatant act of aggression, which we strongly condemn.”
Residents from the local area reported that at least eight individuals, including women and children, lost their lives due to the Pakistani airstrikes, with concerns that the casualty count could increase.
In a message on the X platform, the Afghan Defense Ministry urged that such unilateral actions by Pakistan do not resolve issues. They indicated that “the Islamic Emirate will not let this cowardly act go unanswered, as they consider the defense of their territory an inherent right.”
These military actions unfolded shortly after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, visited Kabul to engage in discussions about various issues, including the enhancement of bilateral trade and improved relations. During this visit, he met Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister of Afghanistan, to express condolences over the recent death of his uncle, Khalil Haqqani, who lost his life in a suicide bombing claimed by a regional affiliate of the Islamic State.
Sadiq also reported a meeting with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, highlighting extensive discussions aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation for peace and progress in the region. Additionally, a pro-Taliban delegation from Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam visited Kabul on the same day to express their condolences regarding the loss of Haqqani’s uncle.
Islamabad routinely asserts that the Pakistani Taliban utilize Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan, a claim that the Afghan government has consistently refuted. Security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali commented that the airstrikes serve as a clear warning to the Pakistani Taliban, emphasizing Pakistan’s readiness to address the terrorist threat through all possible means, both domestically and abroad. He added that Pakistan was careful to limit the strikes to terrorist bases, thereby minimizing civilian casualties.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have seen an increase in their activities, with their leaders and fighters taking refuge in Afghanistan. The TTP has markedly intensified attacks on Pakistani military personnel and police since the cessation of a cease-fire in November 2022, resulting in numerous casualties among soldiers in recent months.
