Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, has confirmed that at least 46 individuals have lost their lives following airstrikes conducted by Pakistan in Paktika province.
According to Mujahid, Pakistan targeted four locations in the Barmal district, with the majority of the casualties being women and children.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Wednesday, 25th December, Mujahid stated: “Last night, 46 people were killed in airstrikes carried out by Pakistan.”
The Pakistani military launched these strikes on Tuesday evening, 24th December, targeting what it described as “Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) centres” in the Barmal district of Paktika. The Taliban, however, has vowed to retaliate against the assault.
Pakistani military-aligned media outlets reported that the strikes successfully eliminated several militants and destroyed four operational centres belonging to TTP. Conversely, the Taliban’s Ministry of Defence claimed the airstrikes targeted “Waziristani refugees” residing in the area.
This is not the first instance of such actions; the Pakistani military has previously conducted operations against TTP strongholds in the Afghan provinces of Khost, Paktia, and Kunar. Pakistan has consistently accused the Afghan Taliban of supporting TTP by providing them with sanctuary and weaponry. These allegations have been categorically denied by the Taliban.
The airstrikes coincided with a visit to Kabul by Muhammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan.
Hamid Karzai, the former President of Afghanistan, strongly condemned the airstrikes, labelling them as a “blatant act of aggression and a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.” Karzai described the attacks as an “open act of invasion.”
Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, also reacted to the strikes, accusing Pakistan of employing coercive diplomacy towards the Taliban. Andisha further remarked that the Taliban lacks the capability to respond to Pakistan militarily.
Meanwhile, some former Afghan officials have criticised the Taliban, alleging that their actions and policies have facilitated Pakistan’s ability to conduct such operations within Afghanistan.
