Escalation at the Border After Deadly Suicide Attacks
In a major escalation of regional tensions, Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan early Sunday reportedly killed at least 16 civilians, including women and children. Islamabad said the strikes targeted militant hideouts linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State, calling the operation a direct retaliation for recent suicide bombings inside Pakistan.
According to Pakistan’s military, seven militant camps were hit in what officials described as an “intelligence-based operation.” However, Afghan authorities and local media claim that residential areas were also struck, resulting in heavy civilian casualties.
The incident has sharply raised tensions between the two neighbouring countries at a time when cross-border violence is already surging.
Civilian Casualties Reported in Nangarhar and Kunar
Afghan media outlets reported that a residential house in Nangarhar province was hit during the airstrikes. Local sources claim that 23 members of the same family were buried under debris while they were asleep. Rescue teams reportedly pulled out only four survivors.
The International Human Rights Foundation stated that at least 16 people were killed in the strikes, though Afghan authorities have yet to confirm final casualty figures.
Additional strikes were reported in:
Kunar province
Paktika province
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry condemned the operation as a “violation of sovereignty” and warned that it would respond “at the appropriate time.”
Pakistan, however, denied targeting civilians and insisted that only terrorist infrastructure was hit.
Why Pakistan Launched the Airstrikes
The Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan came hours after a suicide bombing targeted a military convoy in Bannu district, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.
Recent attacks have intensified Pakistan’s security concerns:
February 6: A suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad killed 31 people.
February 16: A vehicle packed with explosives hit a security checkpoint in Bajaur, killing 11 soldiers and a child.
Pakistan considers the TTP its biggest internal security threat. The group has carried out hundreds of attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government of allowing TTP fighters to operate from Afghan soil — allegations Kabul denies.
The Doha Agreement and International Pressure
Pakistan has urged the international community to pressure the Taliban to honour the Doha Agreement signed in 2020. Under the agreement, Afghan territory was not to be used for attacks against other nations.
The deal paved the way for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. However, since the Taliban takeover in 2021, cross-border militant activity has reportedly increased.
Security experts say the latest Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan signal a shift toward more aggressive cross-border operations.
“If diplomatic pressure fails, limited military strikes could become a recurring pattern,” says a South Asia security analyst.
What This Means for Regional Stability
The latest escalation highlights three major concerns:
Rising militant violence in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region
Fragile Pakistan-Afghanistan diplomatic ties
Risk of broader military confrontation
With Afghanistan warning of retaliation and Pakistan vowing to eliminate cross-border threats, the situation remains volatile.
As militant violence surges across the region, the Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan mark one of the most serious escalations since the Taliban’s return to power — raising fears of prolonged instability in South Asia.
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