On the night of December 24, a series of airstrikes from Pakistan hit the Barmal district in Paktika province, Afghanistan. At least 15 people, including women and children, have died, and the number could go up as rescue efforts continue. The attacks struck seven villages, with Laman village seeing five family members lose their lives, according to reports from Khaama Press.
Local sources say that Pakistani jets were responsible for the bombings, which caused a lot of damage in the Murg Bazaar village and worsened the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the area. The Taliban government in Afghanistan has said they will respond to these attacks because they believe it is their right to protect their land.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence condemned the strikes, claiming many of the victims were Waziristani refugees, citizens displaced by military actions in Pakistan. While Pakistani officials have not officially confirmed the airstrikes, some military sources hinted they were targeting Taliban hideouts close to the border.
Tensions have been rising between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly due to the presence of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) in Afghanistan. The TTP has been stepping up attacks on Pakistan’s military, and Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering these militants. Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Defence, denied these claims on X (formerly Twitter), stating that many civilians, especially refugees, were killed in the airstrike. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, as local sources report that more bodies may be found.
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