KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes on Barmal District in the eastern province of Paktika on Tuesday evening, targeting civilians, including women and children, most of whom were Waziristani migrants.
In a statement, the Taliban confirmed the attacks and condemned them as a blatant violation of international principles and an act of aggression against Afghanistan’s territory.
“Pakistan must understand that such arbitrary and aggressive actions will solve nothing,” the statement read. The ministry claimed that most of the victims were Waziristani refugees who had been residing in the area.
The Taliban warned that they would not leave the incident unanswered, declaring, “Defending the soil and sovereignty of Afghanistan is our legitimate right.”
Local sources reported that the strikes killed at least five people, though the death toll may rise as more information becomes available. The airstrikes also reportedly caused extensive damage to civilian homes in the area.
Tensions between Taliban and Pakistan have escalated in recent months, with both sides accusing each other of harboring militants. The airstrikes mark a significant flashpoint in the increasingly fraught relationship between the two neighbors.
The airstrikes come as a Pakistani delegation led by Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, is in Kabul for talks with Taliban officials.
