At least three killed in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan

KABUL/ISLAMABAD - At least three individuals lost their lives in Pakistani airstrikes targeting northeastern Afghanistan on Monday, Afghan officials reported on Tuesday. The blasts have the potential to rekindle tensions between the two neighbors after a period of relative tranquility, stretching back nearly three months. Relations between the former allies have been tense since February, when their worst clashes in years took place.

The dispute centers on militant activity in Pakistan, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of providing sanctuary to insurgents who stage cross-border attacks from Afghan territory. The Taliban government in Afghanistan denies these allegations, asserting that domestic issues within Pakistan are its sole concern.

The Monday airstrikes followed a police facility attack in northwest Pakistan that claimed the lives of at least 16 people. One residence in Kunar province, situated in northeastern Afghanistan, was struck during the operation, resulting in the deaths of three family members and injuries to four others, according to Taliban deputy spokesperson, Hamdullah Fitrat, who shared the information on social media platform X. In Paktika province's Barmal District, two sites were targeted by the Pakistani military, causing damage to a shop and an unoccupied house; however, no fatalities were reported in these incidents.

Pakistan's military has not yet commented on the matter. Earlier this year, Afghanistan had initiated drone attacks against targets in Pakistan, which Islamabad claimed its forces intercepted and neutralized. The most severe attack of this period occurred in March, when an airstrike by Pakistan resulted in over 400 casualties in Kabul.

The Taliban government claimed the strike targeted a rehabilitation center for drug addicts, while Islamabad denied these claims, stating that the mission had specifically targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure. Pakistan boasts a substantial air force, consisting of 422 combat aircraft and over 260 helicopters according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank; Afghanistan, on the other hand, lacks fighter jets but is known to possess at least six aircraft, 23 helicopters, and a fleet of drones that have previously been utilized in confrontations with Pakistan.