Pakistan has launched air attacks on Afghanistan, saying it struck armed-group hideouts and killed at least 22 fighters, while Kabul accused Islamabad of killing nine women and children in Kunar and Helmand provinces.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information announced the strikes on Thursday, saying they targeted two locations. Afghanistan’s government said the attacks took place late on Wednesday.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan government spokesman, said at least nine people were killed and 11 others wounded. He said three houses were destroyed in the attacks on Kunar in the north-east and Helmand in the south.
“We condemn this act and consider it an aggression and crime against all accepted principles,” Mr Mujahid said in a post on X.
The casualty claims could not be independently verified. The alleged attacks come after three months of relative calm and amid an escalation in fighting between the neighbouring countries.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring armed groups, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which it says carries out cross-border attacks. The Afghan government denies the allegation and says Pakistani attacks have targeted civilian homes, killing and wounding women and children.
