Pakistani Strikes on Afghanistan Leave 22 Dead

The Pakistani government announced that 22 people, whom it described as “terrorists,” were killed in airstrikes targeting areas in Afghanistan, along with the destruction of large quantities of weapons and ammunition.

An Afghan government source told Al Jazeera that nine people were killed and seven others injured in Pakistani airstrikes on the provinces of Kunar and Helmand.

Meanwhile, Mawlawi Sher Mohammad Wahdat, head of the media and culture department in Helmand, told Reuters on Thursday that Pakistani airstrikes targeted two houses in the Garmaser area of the province.

Wahdat added, “According to initial figures, four people have been killed and six others injured so far. Most of the dead and wounded are women and children,” as reported by Reuters.

The Afghan government had previously announced on Thursday that four civilians were killed in Pakistani airstrikes targeting the provinces of Kandahar, Paktia, and Khost.

In response, Islamabad stated that it struck 10 sites used to store and launch drones against targets in Pakistan, describing the operation as “self-defense.”

Tensions between the two countries escalated in late February, involving Pakistani airstrikes on the Afghan capital, Kabul, and Kandahar.

Despite a ceasefire being reached in March, mediation efforts have failed to establish a lasting resolution between the two neighbors.

Islamabad accuses the Afghan government of harboring militants from the Pakistani Taliban, whom it claims carry out attacks on its territory. Kabul denies these allegations and, in turn, accuses Pakistan of harboring hostile groups and violating its sovereignty.