Taliban Reports Civilian Casualties from Pakistani Airstrikes in Eastern Afghanistan

The Taliban spokesperson reported the deaths of three civilians due to Pakistani military operations in Kunar and Paktika, calling these actions a crime.

Pakistani Military Airstrikes on Civilian Areas

Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated in a recent announcement that early morning airstrikes by the Pakistani military on civilian areas in Kunar and Paktika resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to four others. He noted that “in the Kunar attack, a woman and two men were killed, while two women and two men were injured.”

Mujahid further pointed out that in Paktika, a house and a shop were also targeted by the bombing, though there were no reported casualties in this instance. He described these attacks as an “invasion and oppression” and emphasized the recurring nature of Pakistani military crimes.

Taliban’s Response to Pakistani Military Actions

Mujahid stated, “Pakistani military forces have once again committed such crimes to divert public attention from their security failures, and the Afghans will respond to this invasion.” Currently, Pakistani officials have not issued an official response to the situation, although some media outlets have reported that 28 militants were killed in these strikes.

Pakistan has previously been accused of conducting airstrikes on Afghanistan, claiming that the targets were militant hideouts. According to a report from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), on March 15, 2023, one of the airstrikes on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul resulted in the deaths of 269 civilians and injury to 122 others.

Civilian Casualties in Ongoing Conflicts

UNAMA also reported that between March 21, 2023, and June 21, 2024, 499 Afghan civilians were killed, and 1,216 others were injured in clashes and attacks between Taliban forces and the Pakistani military. These figures highlight a troubling situation for civilians in Afghanistan.