Reports from international news agencies and official statements from involved parties

Pakistan Airstrikes in Afghanistan Kill 46, Including 20 Children; Taliban Mobilizes 15,000 Troops for Retaliation

Dec 27, 2024, 03:10 PM

Pakistan's military confirmed it conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province on December 24, claiming to target terrorist hideouts. However, the Taliban administration in Kabul reported that these strikes resulted in the deaths of 46 individuals, predominantly women and children. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has stated that it received credible reports of civilian casualties, including at least 20 children. In response to the airstrikes, Taliban officials have vowed retaliation, with reports indicating that over 15,000 Taliban troops are mobilizing towards the Pakistan border. The Pakistani government characterized the operation as intelligence-based, aimed at neutralizing threats to its citizens, while the Taliban condemned the strikes as a brutal act of aggression. Tensions have escalated, with clashes reported between Taliban and Pakistani forces along the border in Khost and Paktia provinces, resulting in further casualties on both sides. The Taliban's Ministry of Defense has stated that they targeted several locations within Pakistan in retaliation for the airstrikes, indicating a significant escalation in the conflict between the two nations.