A series of airstrikes conducted by Pakistani jets in Afghanistan’s Barmal district of Paktika province late on December 24 resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, including women and children, according to local media reports. The bombings targeted seven villages, including Laman, where five members of one family were killed. Murg Bazaar village was also reportedly destroyed in the strikes.
Pakistani security sources claimed the airstrikes were aimed at dismantling hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for numerous attacks in Pakistan. They reported that multiple TTP hideouts were eliminated, killing dozens of insurgents. However, TTP sources disputed this, stating that a camp housing displaced individuals from Pakistan’s tribal regions was hit, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
This is the second instance of Pakistani airstrikes targeting alleged TTP hideouts in Afghanistan since March 2024. The strikes follow rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over the TTP’s activities, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch cross-border attacks. Kabul denies these claims.
The Taliban-led Afghan government strongly condemned the airstrikes, labeling them a “barbaric bombing” that targeted civilians, including refugees from Waziristan. In a statement, the Afghan Ministry of National Defence vowed retaliation, calling the strikes a violation of international law and Afghan sovereignty.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this barbaric act to be against all international principles and a clear aggression, and strongly condemns it,” the statement read. “The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered.”
The attacks occurred shortly after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, visited Kabul for discussions on improving bilateral ties and enhancing trade. The airstrikes are expected to strain relations further, as Afghan authorities accuse Pakistan of aggression while Islamabad insists the strikes are necessary for its national security.
The TTP, an umbrella group linked to al-Qaeda, has escalated attacks in Pakistan in recent years. In January 2023, the group was responsible for an explosion at a mosque in Peshawar that killed over 100 people. Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghanistan to prevent the TTP from using Afghan soil as a base for its operations, but the group has continued to launch attacks across the border.
