A series of Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil late Monday night have resulted in a devastating loss of civilian life, with at least 10 individuals, including nine children and a woman, killed. The Taliban administration reported the fatalities, highlighting a significant surge in hostilities between the two nations. This cross-border operation follows closely on the heels of a major militant raid on a security installation in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a strong condemnation of the attacks, warning of severe consequences should such border violations persist. The primary strike impacted a residential house in the Mughalgay area of Khost province, completely destroying the structure and claiming the lives of five boys, four girls, and one woman. Social media platforms were used by the Taliban to disseminate this tragic information. Further casualties were reported from separate Pakistani airstrikes in the border regions of Kunar and Paktika, where four more civilians were wounded.
Mujahid referred to the Pakistani military actions as “invasion forces” and explicitly stated that a civilian home was targeted. The timing of these strikes strongly suggests a retaliatory response to the earlier militant attack in Peshawar, where gunmen and suicide bombers infiltrated the Frontier Constabulary headquarters. This breach, which began with a suicide bomber at the entrance, led to the deaths of at least three people and a prolonged engagement between security forces and the remaining assailants.
The Peshawar incident adds to Pakistan’s mounting internal security concerns, further complicated by the tense relationship with Kabul. The root cause of this escalating violence can be traced to a protracted crisis involving cross-border militant activities and the failure of recent diplomatic negotiations. A recent suicide bombing in Islamabad, claimed by the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), underscored this connection, with Pakistan accusing the TTP of directing the attack from Afghanistan. Diplomatic efforts to ease border tensions have faltered, with multiple rounds of talks concluding without resolution.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Taliban government appears to be exploring stronger economic ties with India, a move that could reshape regional dynamics amid the ongoing conflict with Pakistan. A recent visit by Afghanistan’s Commerce and Industry Minister to New Delhi has opened discussions on reviving stalled trade and investment partnerships.