Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on Monday called on Pakistan and the Taliban to protect civilians and resolve their differences through dialogue after Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan reportedly killed dozens of civilians.
In a statement, Egeland said he was alarmed by reports that 38 civilians, including women and children, were killed and 163 others injured in overnight strikes in Paktika, Paktia and Kunar provinces.
“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be targeted,” Egeland said, urging both Pakistani and Afghan military forces to comply with international humanitarian law.
“We urge both Pakistani and Afghan military forces to uphold international humanitarian law and work to resolve their disputes through dialogue,” he said.
The appeal came as international concern mounted over the latest escalation between Pakistan and the Taliban.
Earlier Monday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it had independently confirmed that at least 28 civilians were killed and 49 injured in the strikes, while noting that the figures remain preliminary and could rise as verification continues.
Pakistan has acknowledged carrying out the strikes but said they targeted hideouts belonging to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar militants. The Taliban have rejected that account, saying the attacks struck residential areas.
The latest strikes mark the second Pakistani cross-border operation inside Afghanistan this month and come amid worsening tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban over cross-border militancy and border security.
