Pakistani airstrikes kill 9 in Afghanistan, Taliban say

Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan hit ‌three houses on Thursday, killing 9 people, the Afghan Taliban government said, while Islamabad said the strikes killed 22 “terrorists” after targeting their hideouts, amid an escalation in fighting between ​the neighbours after three months of relative calm.

Those killed in the ​strikes on Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces included women and children, ⁠Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on social media website X, adding ​that 11 people were also injured.

“We condemn this act as an aggression and ​crime in violation of all accepted principles,” he said.
Pakistan’s information ministry, however, said the strikes were based on “credible intelligence” and targeted terrorist hideouts at two locations.

“Targets were destroyed with precision ​and initial reports suggest killing of twenty two terrorists,” the ministry said in ​a statement on X.

Read more: Reuters