Pakistan conducted a series of airstrikes on the Barmal district of Paktika province of Afghanistan causing the death of at least 15 people, including civilians, with the toll foreseen to elevate. Pakistan targeted numerous suspected hideouts of the Pakistan Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside the neighbouring Afghanistan on Tuesday,to demolish a training facility which led to the killing of some militants.
Afghanistan based Khaama Press reported that the attack took place on the night of December 24, targeted seven villages including Laman, where five members of a family were killed. Some media claimed that the Murg Bazaar in Barmal was dismantled, aggravating the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Khaama Press reported that the airstrikes resulted in severe civilian casualties and far reaching destruction which further intensified tensions in the region. As the investigation is required to provide further details and to confirm the responsibility for the attacks.
Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has vowed to counterattack following the airstrike on Barmal. It announced that defending their sovereignty is their fundamental right and criticized the attack claiming that the attack was targeted to execute Waziristani refugees.
Pakistani officials have not confirmed the airstrike officially, but this attack led to intensification of tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan with regard to the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan.
It was the second attack purported on hideouts of Pakistani Taliban since March, when Pakistan claimed an intelligence based strike took place in the border regions of Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan defence ministry posted on its social media platform said that Pakistan should know that these unilateral measures are not the answer to any problems. “The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered and believe that the defense of its territory is their inalienable right.”
