A late-night Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s Khost province killed nine children and one woman, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.
The strike occurred around midnight in the Mughalgai area of Gurbuz district. Mujahid stated that Pakistani forces bombed the home of a local resident, Wilayat Khan, destroying the house and killing his family members. He added that Pakistani forces also carried out attacks in Kunar and Paktika provinces, injuring four civilians.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict has continued for over a year, with cross-border attacks escalating since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The latest series of strikes, centred around Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad, and Paktika, reflects the failure of multiple rounds of talks between the two sides.
Islamabad has accused Kabul of harbouring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and enabling terror attacks inside Pakistan. Afghanistan has denied the allegations. Analysts believe the TTP is attempting to establish an emirate across Afghanistan and Pakistan. Neither the Taliban government nor the TTP recognise the Durand Line, the official border between the two countries.
According to reporting by Middle East Eye, the Afghan government may not directly support TTP operations but avoids opposing them for fear of internal mutiny. Afghan journalist Shabbir Ahmed noted that the Taliban regime views the TTP as ideological kin and battlefield allies rather than terrorists.
Hundreds of civilians have died in the ongoing conflict, with the latest airstrike adding to the toll and raising concerns about further escalation along the border.
