Sourced fact
The News
Pakistan announced it carried out airstrikes on militant camps and sites in Afghanistan, resulting in the death of 22 fighters, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Information. In response, Kabul accused Pakistan of killing civilians in attacks targeting the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Helmand. Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government in Afghanistan, reported that the attacks resulted in the death of nine people and the injury of eleven others, and damaged three homes.
The United Nations confirmed that the Pakistani airstrikes led to the death of ten civilians in Afghanistan, mostly children, and the injury of nine others. The UN mission in Afghanistan called for de-escalation and respect for international law to prevent further civilian damage.
These attacks come in the context of escalating conflict between the two countries after three months of relative calm. Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harboring militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and the Balochistan Liberation Army. In response, Pakistan's Ministry of Information stated that the strikes targeted two militant groups, the Pakistani Taliban and the Balochistan Liberation Army, based on reliable intelligence.
Al Jazeera correspondent Kamal Hyder noted that militant groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban have launched increasing attacks in Pakistan since the breakdown of the truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the Pakistani government in November 2022. Hyder added that Pakistan responds to these attacks by carrying out airstrikes.
For its part, the Taliban government in Afghanistan denies providing safe haven to militant groups and claims that the Pakistani strikes targeted civilian homes, resulting in the death and injury of women and children.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
From an analytical perspective, these attacks indicate a rise in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following a three-month period of relative calm. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of supporting militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and conducting cross-border attacks.
In a broader context, the United Nations continues to record increasing civilian fatalities due to cross-border conflicts, raising concerns about the deterioration of security in the region.
It is noted that the short-lived ceasefire between the Pakistani Taliban and the Pakistani government in November 2022 broke down, leading to an increase in militant attacks on the Pakistani side.
