The spokesperson of the Government of Afghanistan, Zabihulá Muyahid, has denounced that Pakistani fighter planes carried out a series of bombings last night over different areas of the eastern provinces of Kunar and Helmand. According to their data, at least nine civilians, including women and minors, have lost their lives and another eleven people have been injured.
In a statement disseminated on social media, Afghan authorities detail that the attacks impacted civilian homes located in Chugam, in the Shultan district (Kunar), and in Safar, in the Garmser district (Helmand). As a consequence of the bombings, three houses would have been completely destroyed.
"We condemn this act as an aggression and a crime in violation of all accepted principles," stated the Afghan spokesperson, who blames Pakistan for having perpetrated an offensive against non-combatant populations. The figures provided by Kabul, which speak of nine deceased and eleven injured, have not been able to be independently verified.
On the other hand, the Government of Pakistan has admitted to having carried out the air operation and maintains that it is part of its efforts to "eliminate terrorists, their networks, and those who support them." Islamabad has described the bombings as "planned and calibrated" attacks and has assured that 22 suspects would have died in the action.
The Pakistani Ministry of Information has insisted that the targets were "hideouts and strongholds" of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistani Taliban, as well as of Baloch separatist groups. At the same time, it has defended that the attacked enclaves "were destroyed with precision."
"Initial reports indicate that 22 terrorists have died. Likewise, large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored in those hideouts were destroyed," the Ministry noted in a statement published on social media, emphasizing that "precautions were taken to ensure that no collateral damage occurred."
In the same message, Islamabad has emphasized that "Pakistan has always advocated for maintaining peace and stability in the region. However, the security and protection of our citizens remain our top priority," while reiterating its accusations against Afghan Taliban for providing refuge to "terrorist groups."
In this line, the Pakistani government considers that "it is extremely concerning that Afghanistan continues to be a hotspot for terrorism." "The threat that Pakistan faces comes from that country," it has stated, promising that it will continue to act "with total intensity" until "eradicating from the country the threat of terrorism sponsored and supported by foreign agents."
The border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been dragging a high level of instability for years, largely marked by attacks attributed to TTP and by Islamabad's accusations against India and the Afghan Taliban for their supposed support of the organization, something that both New Delhi and Kabul have denied.
These frictions intensified at the end of February, when new Pakistani bombings against alleged TTP enclaves in Afghan territory triggered a resurgence of the bilateral crisis. Although both parties agreed to a ceasefire, in recent months there have been several exchanges of fire and attacks in the border area.