Pakistani Airstrikes in Afghanistan
Pakistani airstrikes targeted suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside Afghanistan early on Monday, following recent attacks in the country’s northwest.
Details of the Airstrikes
- The airstrikes took place in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost and Paktika provinces.
- No further details were provided regarding the extent of the airstrikes.
- The Pakistani Taliban confirmed the strikes in a statement.
Response and Casualties
The Afghan Taliban denounced the airstrikes, stating that they resulted in civilian casualties.
- According to the Afghan Taliban, the strikes in Paktika’s Barmal district killed three women and three children.
- In Khost, two women were reported dead as a result of the airstrikes.
Recent Attacks and Retaliation
The airstrikes followed a suicide bombing in Pakistan’s Khyber Paktunkhwa province, where seven soldiers were killed.
President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation for the deaths of the soldiers, emphasizing that their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Context and Analysis
The strikes are seen as a response to a series of attacks by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Pakistan.
Security experts believe that the airstrikes signal Pakistan’s diminishing patience with the Afghan interim government’s perceived support for militant groups targeting Pakistan.
The Pakistani Taliban, while distinct from the TTP, have intensified attacks within Pakistan, straining relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
