Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of Deadly Air Strikes in Border Provinces

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government said on Tuesday that nine children and one woman were killed in Pakistani air strikes overnight, marking one of the most serious escalations in months between the two neighbours. The Taliban administration condemned the attack and vowed to issue a response “at an appropriate time.”

The air strikes reportedly hit three eastern provinces bordering Pakistan, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who described the action as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a breach of internationally accepted norms.

Pakistan has not released an official statement, and requests for comment made early Tuesday received no immediate response.

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Rising Hostilities After Months of Fragile Ceasefire

The incident follows weeks of fragile calm after deadly border clashes in October, during which dozens were killed in the worst Afghanistan–Pakistan military confrontation since the Taliban reclaimed power in 2021.

Although both sides agreed to a ceasefire in Doha last month, negotiations broke down without a formal, written agreement on Pakistan’s demand that Kabul take action against groups Islamabad accuses of staging cross-border attacks.

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Taliban Says It Will Defend Territory; Pakistan Cites Militant Threat

In a strongly worded statement, Mujahid said:

“Defending our air space, territory, and people is our legitimate right. At an appropriate time, a necessary response will be given.”

Pakistan maintains that militants operating from Afghan soil have conducted a series of recent attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies hosting such groups and insists that it cannot assume responsibility for internal Pakistani security challenges.

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Pakistan Links Recent Suicide Bombings to Afghan-Based Militants

Pakistan has experienced a renewed wave of violent incidents in recent weeks. Among them:

• Three paramilitary personnel were killed on Monday in Peshawar after security forces intercepted suicide attackers.
• Earlier this month, 12 civilians were killed in Islamabad in the first attack targeting the capital in roughly a decade.
• A day before that incident, an explosive-laden vehicle detonated at the entrance of a military school in South Waziristan, killing three people.

Pakistani officials say all three attacks were traced to networks operating in Afghanistan, an accusation the Taliban leadership rejects.

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Diplomatic Relations at Their Lowest Point in Years

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been deteriorating rapidly amid escalating border tensions, mutual accusations, and the absence of a long-term security agreement. Pakistan has pushed Kabul to curb militants it claims are responsible for attacks, while Afghanistan asserts that Islamabad must respect its territorial boundaries and sovereignty.

With both nations exchanging accusations and military engagements becoming more frequent, regional observers warn that a prolonged standoff may undermine stability along one of South Asia’s most sensitive borders.