Islamic Emirate condemns deadly Pakistani airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has strongly condemned a series of airstrikes reportedly carried out by Pakistani military forces on civilian-populated areas in eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, describing the attacks as a grave violation that resulted in significant civilian casualties.
In a statement, Islamic Emirate spokesman Mawlavi Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes targeted residential areas in the Gayan district of Paktika province, the Chamkani district of Paktia province, and the Munawara district of Kunar province.
According to the spokesman, the attacks caused dozens of casualties, including women and children. Authorities have not yet released an official breakdown of the number of those killed and injured, while local officials continue to assess the extent of the damage.
Mujahid strongly condemned the airstrikes, characterizing them as an act of aggression against civilians and describing the incident as a serious crime.
"The attacks targeted civilian-populated areas and resulted in the loss of innocent lives," the spokesman said, adding that women and children were among the victims.
He further stated that the Islamic Emirate views the strikes as an unacceptable violation of Afghan sovereignty and called on the international community to take notice of the incident.
The strikes reportedly hit several locations in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan. Residents in the affected districts reported hearing multiple explosions during the night, while emergency teams and local authorities rushed to the impacted areas to assist victims and assess damages.
Local sources indicated that homes and civilian infrastructure were affected by the bombardment, although the full scale of the destruction has not yet been independently verified.
The incident comes amid recurring tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan along their shared border. Security concerns, cross-border incidents, and accusations exchanged by both sides have contributed to strained relations in recent years.
Afghan officials have repeatedly called for disputes to be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic engagement rather than military action, warning that attacks affecting civilians risk further destabilizing the region.
The Islamic Emirate urged international organizations and human rights bodies to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable for any violations of international law.
Authorities said efforts are continuing to provide assistance to affected families and to document the human and material losses resulting from the strikes.
Further details are expected to emerge as investigations into the incident continue and rescue teams complete assessments in the affected districts. (ILKHA)
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