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15 Killed in Pakistani Airstrikes on Afghanistan, Taliban Vows Retaliation

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At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed in a series of Pakistani airstrikes in the Barmal district of Paktika province, Afghanistan, on the night of December 24.

The attacks targeted seven villages, including Laman, where five members of a single family lost their lives. The death toll is expected to rise as search and recovery operations continue.

Details of the Airstrikes

Local sources claim the strikes, reportedly carried out by Pakistani fighter jets, caused extensive destruction in the affected areas. Murg Bazaar village was reportedly leveled, displacing residents and worsening the region’s humanitarian crisis. The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence stated that the airstrikes targeted "Waziristani refugees," a group comprising civilians displaced by military operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

The Ministry condemned the attacks, asserting the Taliban’s right to defend Afghanistan’s sovereignty. Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a Taliban Ministry of Defence spokesperson, confirmed that civilians, including children, were among the victims. He described the incident as a "martyrdom of innocent people," though no official casualty figures were released.

Tensions Escalate Between Pakistan and Afghanistan

This incident has further strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, already fraught with mutual accusations of harboring militants. Pakistan claims the Afghan Taliban is sheltering members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group responsible for increased attacks on Pakistani forces. Afghan officials, however, deny the allegations, asserting that the airstrikes targeted civilians rather than militants.

Unnamed Pakistani security sources suggested the strikes were aimed at Taliban hideouts near the border. However, no official statement has been released by the Pakistani government.

Humanitarian Impact

The airstrikes have left several homes destroyed, forcing residents to flee in fear of further attacks. The region is grappling with a growing humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by ongoing violence and displacement.

Taliban’s Pledge to Retaliate

The Taliban has vowed to retaliate against the airstrikes, with the Ministry of Defence declaring its commitment to protect Afghanistan’s land and sovereignty. This declaration adds to the rising tension along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where violence frequently erupts between the two nations.

A History of Cross-Border Conflict

The airstrikes mark the latest development in a series of cross-border incidents, fueled by accusations from both sides of harboring militants. The TTP, which Pakistan claims is being sheltered in Afghan border provinces, has intensified its attacks within Pakistan, leading to increased friction between the neighboring countries.

As details continue to emerge from the remote region, the incident underscores the growing volatility in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, with both nations locked in a cycle of blame and violence.

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