At least three people were killed and four others injured in northeastern Afghanistan during Pakistani air raids that struck the Nurgal district in Kunar province at about 4:00 am local time on Monday, according to Afghan officials. The early morning strikes hit at least one house, killing three members of the same family, according to statements posted on X by Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat. The cross-border attack threatens to renew hostilities between the neighboring states after nearly three months of relative calm.
Casualties and Damage Across Kunar and Paktika Provinces
In Kunar’s Nurgal district, provincial spokesperson Farid Dehqan told Al Jazeera that the air raid left four people injured alongside the three fatalities. Fitrat also reported that two separate locations were bombarded in the Barmal district of Paktika province, destroying one shop and one unoccupied house while leaving no reported casualties there.
Did You Know? Kunar is a mountainous province located in northeastern Afghanistan.
Strained Bilateral Relations and Cross-Border Militancy
The latest air raids risk inflaming tensions that have persisted between the former allies since February, when the two countries fought their worst clashes in years. Islamabad maintains that the Afghan Taliban government is harboring armed groups that launch cross-border attacks from Afghan soil. Afghanistan’s Taliban administration denies these accusations, asserting instead that the violence remains Pakistan’s internal domestic problem.
Recent Escalations Leading Up to the Monday Raids
Monday’s military action follows a deadly bombing attack on a mosque at a police facility in Kohat, located in northwestern Pakistan. A Pakistan Taliban faction claimed responsibility for that blast and the subsequent gun battle, which Pakistani officials reported killed at least 21 people, predominantly police officers. In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information issued a warning on Saturday stating that the country could strike fighters inside Afghanistan, directly blaming Afghanistan-based fighters for the Kohat attack. Pakistani authorities offered no immediate comment regarding the reported air raids in Kunar and Paktika.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the air attacks take place?
According to Afghan officials, the air raids occurred at about 4:00 am local time on Monday, hitting the Nurgal district in Kunar province and two locations in the Barmal district of Paktika province.
What were the reported casualties from the strikes?
Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat stated that three members of the same family were killed and four others were injured when a house was hit in Kunar province. No casualties were reported in Paktika province, where a shop and an unoccupied house were destroyed.
What reason did Pakistan give for its warnings ahead of the strikes?
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information warned on Saturday that the country could target fighters inside Afghanistan following a bombing attack on a mosque at a police facility in Kohat, northwestern Pakistan, which killed at least 21 people. The ministry blamed that attack on fighters based in Afghanistan.
What steps could both governments take next to prevent further military escalation along the border?