Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan kill 9 civilians, Kabul says; Pakistan says only militants hit

Pakistan carried out air strikes against alleged terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, according to the country's information ministry. The strikes, part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, targeted groups the government calls Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan, which refers to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The ministry said the strikes were "well-planned and calibrated" and took place at two locations in Afghanistan, with initial reports suggesting the killing of 22 terrorists, according to Dawn. Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these hideouts were also destroyed.

The operation aimed to eliminate terrorists, their networks, and supporters, with the ministry stressing that the safety of Pakistani citizens remained the "foremost priority". The government expressed concern that Afghanistan "continues to remain a hub of terrorism", posing a threat to Pakistan.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Dawn - Pakistan, Dawn, Jerusalem Post — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.