At Least 15 Killed In Pakistani Airstrike At Afghanistan (X image @SAnPerspective)

Kabul, Afghanistan: At least 15 killed in a series of strikes form launched at Barmal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan. The figure is expected to escalate. The attacks, which took place on the night of December 24, reportedly targeted seven villages, including Laman, where five members of a family were killed, as per media report.

Media reports indicate that the Murg Bazaar village in Barmal was destroyed, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Tension soared higher as the airstrikes have caused severe civilian casualties and widespread destruction. The new attack comes amidst high tension between the two countries regarding the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan.

While recovery efforts are on going, investigation into the matter is required to confirm details and clarify responsibility for the attacks, as reported by Khaama Press.

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At the same time, Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has vowed to retaliate following the airstrike on Barmal, Paktika. The Ministry stated that defending their land and sovereignty is their legitimate right, and condemned the attack, claiming that “Waziristani refugees” were among those targeted.

Pakistani officials did not officially confirmed the airstrikes. However, security sources close to the military suggested that the attack was aimed at Taliban hideouts near the border.

The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has increased its attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan Taliban of providing shelter to them.

Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Defence, said that “civilian people, mostly Waziristani refugees,” had been killed in the airstrike.

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Taking to X, Khwarazmi added that “several children and other civilians were martyred and wounded” in the attack, though no official casualty figures were provided”. Reportedly, at least 15 bodies, including women and children, have been recovered, and the death count is expected to rise as search efforts continue.

The Waziristani refugees are civilians who had been displaced by military operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

At the same time, Pakistan maintains that many TTP commanders and fighters have fled to Afghanistan, where they are reportedly being protected by the Afghan Taliban in border provinces. Taliban repeatedly insisted that they are not involved in providing for the group.