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Kabul, Afghanistan – Pakistan’s military conducted strikes targeting militant hideouts across the border in Afghanistan early Sunday, claiming to have killed at least 70 militants it blames for recent attacks within Pakistan. The strikes, described as “intelligence-based, selective operations,” have sparked condemnation from the Afghan government and raised concerns about escalating tensions between the two nations.
The Pakistani military stated the operations targeted camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and affiliates, including a group linked to the Islamic State, according to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. These actions come in response to a surge in militant violence within Pakistan, including recent suicide bombings that have claimed dozens of lives. The strikes represent a significant escalation in Pakistan’s response to cross-border attacks and a challenge to the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry reported that the strikes hit “various civilian areas” in the provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, including a religious madrassa and multiple homes, calling the attacks a violation of its airspace and sovereignty. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the attacks “killed and wounded dozens, including women and children.” Mawlawi Fazl Rahman Fayyaz, the provincial director of the Afghan Red Crescent Society in Nangarhar province, reported 18 people were killed and several others wounded. These reports of civilian casualties have fueled further outrage from the Afghan government.
Protest and Condemnation from Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul to lodge a formal protest, stating that protecting Afghan territory is a “Sharia responsibility” and warning Pakistan of consequences for further attacks. Villagers in Nangarhar were seen clearing rubble and preparing for funerals, with local tribal elder Habib Ullah asserting that those killed were not militants but “poor people who suffered greatly.”
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar maintained that the strikes were conducted with precision, targeting seven camps associated with the TTP and its allies. He stated that Pakistan has “always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region” but emphasized that the safety of its citizens remains a top priority. Tarar also claimed Pakistan possesses “conclusive evidence” linking recent attacks, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed 31 worshippers earlier this month, to militants operating from Afghanistan.
Escalating Tensions and Failed Mediation Efforts
The strikes follow a recent increase in militant activity within Pakistan, with the TTP and Baloch separatist groups claiming responsibility for numerous attacks. Hours before the Pakistani strikes, a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in Bannu, Pakistan, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel. Another attack last week in Bajaur district killed 11 soldiers and a child. Islamabad accuses the TTP of operating from within Afghanistan, a charge both the group and Kabul deny.
Security analyst Abdullah Khan, based in Islamabad, suggested that the Pakistani strikes indicate the failure of recent mediation efforts led by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to de-escalate tensions. “These strikes are likely to further escalate the situation,” Khan said. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire, established after deadly border clashes in October, has largely held, but talks in Istanbul in November failed to produce a formal agreement, leaving relations strained. The October clashes resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides, following explosions in Kabul that Afghan officials blamed on Pakistan.
The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan to take verifiable steps to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks, but alleges that no substantive action has been taken. The international community is now being called upon to encourage Afghanistan to uphold its commitments under the Doha agreement, which aims to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities.
What comes next will likely depend on Afghanistan’s response to the strikes and whether regional and international pressure can be brought to bear to prevent further escalation. The fragile peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan hangs in the balance, and the potential for a wider conflict remains a serious concern.
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