Pakistan has claimed that its recent airstrikes along the Afghan border killed at least 70 fighters. Taliban officials have denied the claims, accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians and violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
Pakistan’s Deputy Interior Minister, Talal Chaudhry, said in an interview that at least 70 fighters were killed, but provided no evidence to support the claim. Pakistani state media reported the number of casualties as 80, though this figure has not been officially confirmed.
The Pakistani military carried out the overnight airstrikes on Sunday, targeting what it described as “camps and hideouts” of armed groups. Human rights activists and local residents have strongly condemned the attacks, calling Pakistan’s actions a violation of human rights.
The Taliban Ministry of Defense said the strikes damaged civilian areas, including religious schools and private homes, in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. The ministry described the attacks as a breach of Afghanistan’s airspace and sovereignty and said a proper response would be given in due course.
Residents of Bihsud district in Nangarhar, along with Taliban security personnel, conducted search efforts for victims after the strikes. According to the Afghan Red Crescent Society, at least 18 civilians were killed and many others injured.
Meanwhile, the Taliban summoned the Pakistani ambassador in Kabul to lodge a formal protest, warning that Pakistan would be held responsible for the consequences of the attacks.
The strikes have drawn strong reactions from military, political, and human rights activists, though some Afghan politicians, including Rasul Sayyaf and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, have so far remained silent.
