Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Information Ministry announced on Monday that 28 people were killed in airstrikes targeting three locations inside Afghanistan. This development comes amid escalating tensions between the two countries following a deadly attack on a police facility in northwestern Pakistan.
Raids on Konar and Paktika
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani airstrikes targeted civilian areas in Kunar and Paktika provinces in eastern Afghanistan.
He added, according to Reuters, that Pakistani aircraft bombed a house and a shop in Paktika province. However, the information provided no further details about the other locations targeted in the airstrikes or the nature of the damage.
These strikes come amid escalating security tensions between the two neighboring countries, with each side exchanging accusations about the attacks and the parties behind them.
Deadly attack on police facility
The raids came two days after an attack targeted a police headquarters in the city of Kohat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwest Pakistan.
The attack was carried out by gunmen using explosives and firearms. It resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people, including 16 police officers, and injured more than 100 others.
The Pakistani army had previously announced the killing of 10 militants during security operations carried out between Tuesday and Thursday in the region.
Mutual accusations between the two neighbors
Pakistan accuses groups it describes as “extremist” and says are based inside Afghanistan of being behind attacks targeting its territory.
The Taliban-led government in Kabul denies any Afghan involvement in the attacks, adding to the existing tension between the two countries.
The current escalation comes after Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in their worst conflict in years last February. This raises fears of renewed fighting between the two neighbors, given ongoing security disputes and mutual accusations regarding the activities of armed groups across their border.