Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that Pakistani fighter jets bombed residential areas in Kunar and Helmand provinces early on Thursday, October 1st. According to him, the attacks, which he labeled an "aggression" and a "crime," resulted in the deaths of 9 civilians, including women and children, and injured 11 others.
Based on the details provided, the strikes occurred in the Shaltan and Chogam districts of Kunar province and the Garmsir district of Helmand province. Local Taliban officials in Helmand reported that an airstrike in the Safar area of Garmsir destroyed two residential houses, killing four civilians and injuring six more. In Kunar, a residential house was targeted in Shaltan district, resulting in five civilian deaths and three injuries.
In contrast, Pakistan's Ministry of Information confirmed the airstrikes, stating that the targeted operations were conducted against sanctuaries of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch militant groups in Afghanistan. Islamabad claims that "22 terrorists" were killed and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was destroyed in the strikes.
The Pakistani ministry's statement said the attacks were based on precise intelligence and were a continuation of the military operation named "Ghadab-ul-Haq." Islamabad emphasized that its security forces' counter-terrorism operations will continue with full force to eradicate threats.
This is not the first time Pakistan has conducted airstrikes on Afghan soil. Previously, locations in Kandahar, Khost, and Paktia provinces were subjected to similar bombings, which have consistently drawn sharp reactions from the Taliban government and Afghan political figures.
The Taliban spokesman, while strongly condemning the attacks, called them a violation of all international principles and a clear each of Afghanistan's national sovereignty. Tensions in relations between Kabul and Islamabad have significantly increased in recent years over the presence of TTP fighters on Afghan soil.
Source: News reports
🌐
