Kabul claims Pakistani military conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan, killing many

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Afghanistan accused Pakistan's military on Tuesday of carrying out airstrikes in eastern Paktika province, killing and injuring several civilians, "mostly refugees from Waziristan."

The Defense Ministry of the Taliban-led interim administration in Kabul claimed that the Pakistani military bombed Paktika's Barmal district.

Enayatullah Khwarizmi, a ministry spokesman, claimed that the bombing targeted civilians, mainly "refugees" from Pakistan's restive Waziristan region.

According to Kabul, this is the second airstrike conducted inside Afghanistan, after the first in March, which was formally protested by the Taliban administration.

Islamabad has yet to respond to claims made by Kabul.

In the airstrikes, "several children and other civilians were martyred and injured," he claimed.

The Kabul statement continued: "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban administration) considers this barbaric act to be against all international principles and a clear aggression and strongly condemns it."

According to Khwarizmi, “the Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered but rather considers the defense of its territory and territory to be its inalienable right."

Islamabad has long been accusing Kabul of not acting against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who have reportedly been operating from Afghanistan.

Kabul denies the charge.

The TTP has carried out deadly attacks on Pakistani security forces, mainly in the bordering areas, in recent months.