Pakistan Carries Out Air Strikes In Afghanistan, Dozens Killed

Pakistan’s military carried out air strikes inside Afghanistan, reportedly killing and wounding dozens of people, according to Al Jazeera.

The Afghan Ministry of Defence said the strikes hit a religious school and residential homes in the provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, as per Al Jazeera.

Afghan officials said women and children were among the casualties.

According to Al Jazeera, Afghan sources confirmed that at least 17 people were killed in Nangarhar province alone.

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Pakistan said the strikes targeted camps and hideouts of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting described the operation as “intelligence-based” and said it acted against armed groups responsible for recent attacks inside Pakistan.

As reported by Al Jazeera, Pakistan claimed it had evidence that recent suicide bombings in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu were planned by leaders based in Afghanistan.

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The air strikes came after a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan. Earlier this month, a suicide bombing at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad killed at least 31 worshippers. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained high in recent months despite a ceasefire mediated by Qatar in October last year.

Afghan officials condemned the latest strikes as a violation of international law and said they would respond at an appropriate time.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)