Pak air strikes in Af leave 26 dead

CONFLICTING CLAIMS | Islamabad says terror hideouts targeted; Taliban say at least eleven children, a woman and an elderly man killed

Pakistan is grappling with the consequences of its ill-considered policies and hostile actions in the region, and it must realise it won’t achieve its goals by persisting with and pursuing those policies. Pak’s best interest lies in abandoning its policy of war and destruction and choosing good neighborliness and civilised relations.

Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s former president

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday said it carried out "precise and calibrated" overnight air strikes targeting alleged terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan and killed 26 people. The confirmation by Information Minister Attaull­ah Tarar came hours after the Afghan government criticised Pakistan for air strikes, killing civilians in an overnight attack. This is the third time the two countries have engaged in armed conflict since October last year.

Tarar said the strikes were conducted along Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas against hideouts and safe havens of planners belonging to Fitna Al Khwarij, a term Pakistan uses for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Among the recent incidents cited by Tarar were an attack on a Federal Consta­bulary post in Musa Dara on June 9, vehicle-borne suicide attacks on a military post in North Waziristan on June 2, and an attack on a police station in Bannu on May 9.

“Based on credible intelligence, selective targeting of camps and hideouts was carried out with precision and accuracy. Four targets were completely destroyed, including a training centre, a hideout, an ammunition cache and a Marakiz (hub),” Tarar said on X. He said Pakistan has strived to maintain peace and stability in the region, but added the safety and security of its citizens remained the country’s top priority. 

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan’s air strikes in Kunar, Khost and Paktika caused casualties.

“Last night, the Pakistani military once again violated Afghanistan’s airspace and bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika. As a result of these attacks, 11 children, one woman and one elderly man were killed, while 14 others were injured,” he said. 

—PTI