Kabul, 02 October (H.S.): Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated following reported Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces. Afghanistan’s Taliban government has claimed that nine civilians, including women and children, were killed and 11 others injured in the strikes. Pakistan, meanwhile, said its airstrikes targeted terrorist hideouts and that, according to initial reports, 22 terrorists were killed. The claims made by both sides could not be independently verified.

According to the Balochistan-based online news network The Balochistan Post, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the strikes carried out on Wednesday night targeted three houses in Chogam in Kunar’s Shultan district and Safar in Helmand’s Garmser district. He alleged that women and children were among those killed in the attacks. Mujahid condemned the Pakistani action, describing it as an act of aggression.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said the airstrikes were carried out on the basis of credible intelligence and targeted terrorist camps and hideouts at two locations. According to the ministry, the targets were precisely destroyed, while initial reports indicated that 22 terrorists had been killed. Pakistan also said that weapons and ammunition stored at the sites were destroyed and that precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also reported civilian casualties in the airstrikes. According to the mission, at least 10 civilians were killed, most of them children, while nine others were injured. The United Nations has called on both sides to reduce tensions over cross-border violence and pursue dialogue.

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing sanctuary to armed groups that carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul rejects these allegations and maintains that terrorist activities occurring inside Pakistan are an internal matter for Islamabad. Tensions between the two countries over cross-border attacks and military operations have intensified in recent months.

In a recent development, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence had also made claims regarding a clash in Nuristan involving an armed group originating from Pakistan. Pakistan rejected those allegations and has also denied claims concerning the recruitment or training of former Afghan security personnel.

Following the latest airstrikes in Kunar and Helmand, accusations and counter-accusations between the two countries have intensified once again. For now, there is a clear discrepancy between the claims of the two sides regarding the number of people killed in the strikes and the nature of the targets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar