At least 51 people, including women and children, were killed and several others injured in an airstrike by Pakistani fighter jets on parts of Barmal district in Paktika province on Tuesday night.

The Islamic Emirate reported that the airstrikes targeted four areas in Barmal district. Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, stated: "Unfortunately, I must say that last night, four areas in Barmal district of Paktika province were bombed, resulting in the destruction of several homes and the martyrdom of many women and children."

Several eyewitnesses reported that Pakistani fighter jets targeted civilian homes in the district around 8:00 PM. Mirbat Khan, a resident of Barmal district, said: "It was around 8:00 PM when Pakistani jets came and bombed people who were neither Taliban nor Mujahideen. In one house, a woman and two children, who belonged to a poor family, were killed." Another resident, Bawul Khan, added: "Last night, there was a bombing in Barmal district, resulting in several people being killed and others injured. The jets targeted homes where women and children were either killed or injured."

Abdullah Haqmal, head of Public Health for Paktika, reported that 26 injured people, including 10 children, have been brought to the provincial hospital in Sharan city. Some of the critically injured were transferred to the regional hospital in Paktia province. Haqmal emphasized that civilians were targeted in the bombing, with 26 people, including women and children, injured and brought to the hospital in Sharan city.

Earlier, clashes had occurred between Pakistani forces and the Islamic Emirate in Gurbaz and Zazai Maidan districts of Khost province, Zazi Aryub and Dand-e-Patan districts of Paktia province, and at the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar. (ILKHA)