(SeaPRwire) – By: Julian Holbrooke
Afghan officials have reported that Pakistani military strikes overnight have killed 13 civilians in the border provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika. A Taliban spokesperson alleges Islamabad violated Afghan airspace in launching these attacks. The toll includes 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man, with 14 others injured. An AFP report details a strike in Spera district that killed nine and wounded 11, while another attack in Barmal district claimed three civilian lives, all children.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of sheltering armed groups responsible for cross-border raids, like the February mosque bombing in Islamabad. Afghanistan, in turn, accuses Pakistan of “unforgivable war crimes.” Despite a late-March truce agreement, low-intensity clashes continue. Islamabad claims its strikes target insurgents, not civilians. However, a UN report shows 372 Afghan civilians died and 397 were wounded in the first three months of this year. Pakistan also blames Afghanistan’s growing ties with India for the strained relationship. This tragic incident further exacerbates the already tense situation between the two countries, raising concerns about civilian safety and the future of regional stability.
Author bio: Julian Holbrooke, an overseas international relations analyst contributing to major European daily newspapers.
