Afghan Taliban officials say Pakistani airstrikes in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan kill at least 13 people, including 11 children, in an incident that they describe as renewed cross-border violence. The Taliban government states the strikes hit three Afghan provinces: Kunar, Khost and Paktika. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid says the attacks also injure at least 14 others, who are described as children and women, and that the strikes violate Afghanistan’s airspace and hit civilian homes.
Some reports cite the Taliban’s account of civilian casualties, while Pakistan has a different stated rationale and claimed results. CBS News reports that Pakistan says it killed 26 militants in “precise and calibrated” strikes. As of the coverage reviewed, Pakistan has not issued a direct public response to the specific casualty claims attributed to the Taliban. No independent verification of the figures provided by either side is included in the reports.
The incident is presented as part of a wider conflict that has resulted in hundreds of deaths this year, according to the reporting.
