Kabul vows retaliation as Pakistan denies cross-border airstrikes
Kabul vows retaliation as Pakistan denies cross-border airstrikes
Kabul condemns overnight strikes as a sovereignty violation while Islamabad denies the claims, signaling a dangerous escalation along the border.
Pakistan's military denied Afghan Taliban claims of overnight airstrikes inside Afghanistan that reportedly killed ten people. Kabul condemned the actions as violations of sovereignty and vowed retaliation, marking a sharp escalation in a long-running border dispute.
Pakistan's army spokesperson dismissed the accusations as baseless, arguing the reports stem from heightened rhetoric along the frontier. Afghan authorities said the strikes hit Khost province, killing at least ten people, including nine children and one woman, with air raids in Kunar and Paktika injuring four civilians.
With Kabul promising retaliation, the standoff signals a fragile phase in Pakistan-Afghanistan security dynamics, as both sides accuse the other of crossing into each other's territory and violating sovereignty.
The wider context includes ongoing violence around the region, including a suicide attack in Peshawar cited by officials earlier this week, underscoring how quickly tensions can flare.
Experts say restraint is essential, while diplomats urge de-escalation and adherence to international norms to prevent civilian harm and risk of broader conflict.
Cover image source: 10 including 9 children killed in Pakistani attack in Afghan province: Taliban 🔗
