Four Civilians Killed in Pakistani Air Strikes on Afghanistan: Taliban
Bbc · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Pakistani air strikes killed four civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure across three Afghan provinces on Thursday, in the second wave of attacks in less than a week, Afghanistan's Taliban government said. The strikes hit Kandahar, Paktia, and Khost provinces, with Kandahar serving as the Taliban's base of power. Pakistan confirmed the strikes targeted 10 locations used for launching and storing drones, describing the operation as self-defense following a drone incursion on September 23.
Key Points
- Pakistani forces carried out precision air strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan, killing four civilians according to the Taliban
- Strikes hit Kandahar, Paktia, and Khost provinces; Kandahar is the Taliban's de facto seat of power
- In Paktia, jets bombed the Afghan Armed Forces' 203 Mansouri Corps; in Khost, residential houses were damaged
- Local witnesses described midnight panic after explosions, with one resident saying "there is no military base here"
- This marks the second wave of Pakistani strikes this week, following an attack on a Pakistani police facility on September 18
Why It Matters
The exchange represents a dangerous escalation in cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both sides warning of retaliatory actions that could spiral further . The strikes risk destabilizing the already volatile border region and could draw in regional powers with interests in South Asian security.
The exchange represents a dangerous escalation in cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both sides warning of retaliatory actions that could spiral further . The strikes risk destabilizing the already volatile border region and could draw in regional powers with interests in South Asian security.