Pakistan strikes militant targets inside Afghanistan, Kabul says civilians killed

Pakistan announced on Monday that its security forces had conducted an intelligence‑based ground operation along the border with Afghanistan, followed by “calibrated strikes” against militant hideouts in Afghan territory. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the operation killed at least 29 militants, including a high‑value commander, and destroyed large quantities of weapons and ammunition.

Karachi attack and response

The strikes came a day after heavily armed militants stormed a paramilitary Rangers headquarters in Karachi, killing three soldiers. The attack was claimed by Jamaat‑ul‑Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan said the cross‑border action targeted hideouts of the group and the banned Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it accuses of operating from Afghan soil.

Afghanistan's condemnation

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid rejected Pakistan’s claims, stating that the airstrikes hit civilian areas in Paktika, Paktia, and Kunar provinces. He said dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured, calling the attacks “a crime and an act of brutality”. The latest escalation is likely to further strain already tense relations between the two neighbours, which have seen months of cross‑border clashes.