Pakistan confirms airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan targeting militant hideouts

KABUL — Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes in several areas of eastern and southeastern Afghanistan on Sunday, according to Afghan local media and Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported on X that strikes were conducted in Khogyani, Ghani Khel and Behsud districts of Nangarhar province. It also said airstrikes took place in Barmal and Urgun districts of Paktika province.The outlet reported that in Behsud district a civilian home belonging to a person identified as Shahabuddin was targeted.Citing Nangarhar Police spokesperson Sayed Tayyeb Hammad, it said 23 members of a family were trapped under rubble after the strike, with four rescued and search and rescue operations ongoing.TOLOnews, citing security sources, reported no casualties in the strikes on Barmal and Urgun districts. In its Pashto version, the channel said a religious sermon was struck in Barmal district.In a separate statement on X, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed that the military carried out strikes on Afghan territory, saying seven hideouts belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic State Khorasan Province were targeted in border regions.The ministry said the action was a “retributive response” based on intelligence and followed recent suicide bombing incidents in Pakistan. It added that Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to prevent its territory from being used by militants against Pakistan.Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X that “certain Pakistani military circles have once again violated Afghan territory,” alleging that civilian casualties occurred in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.Pakistan earlier vowed to respond to the killing of two security personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning it would not allow attacks launched from Afghanistan to go unanswered.