A dangerous new chapter has opened on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Early Sunday, Pakistan’s military launched airstrikes deep inside Afghan territory, claiming to target hideouts of militants responsible for a recent surge of attacks within Pakistan. Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry suggested over 70 militants were killed in these operations.
However, Afghanistan swiftly and fiercely rejected Pakistan’s narrative. The Afghan Defense Ministry reported that civilian areas, including a religious school and homes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, were hit. They condemned the strikes as a flagrant violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and sovereignty, denying any militant casualties and reporting “dozens” of civilian dead and wounded, including women and children. Local villagers corroborated this, stating those killed were “poor people” and not militants.
This escalation follows Pakistan’s growing frustration, as it repeatedly accuses the outlawed Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and its allies of operating from within Afghanistan to orchestrate cross-border attacks. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari underscored his nation’s “inherent right to defend its people against terrorism,” cautioning that those behind the attacks “will not remain beyond reach.” In response, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan’s ambassador, reaffirming its “Sharia responsibility” to protect its territory and warning of severe consequences for such actions.
The recent weeks have been particularly violent for Pakistan, with deadly suicide bombings targeting soldiers and other security personnel, all attributed by Islamabad to Afghanistan-based groups. Despite previous ceasefires and international mediation efforts, relations between the two neighbors have remained severely strained. Security analysts are now warning that these latest strikes are highly likely to escalate the already volatile situation, making a peaceful resolution an increasingly distant prospect. The ongoing conflict underscores the profound challenges facing both nations, with innocent lives constantly caught in the devastating crossfire.
