New Delhi | RBN News
Afghanistan has promised a “measured and appropriate response” after Pakistani air strikes in eastern border provinces killed at least 17 people and left six others missing, amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours.
Pakistan’s military conducted early morning air raids on Sunday targeting what it described as “camps and hideouts” of armed groups responsible for recent attacks inside Pakistan, including a deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad.
Pakistan Says Strikes Targeted TTP, ISKP Camps
In a statement posted by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the military said it carried out “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.
The ministry also said that the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Islamabad earlier this month, was among the targets.
Islamabad stated it had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks in Islamabad and the northwestern districts of Bajaur and Bannu were orchestrated by fighters allegedly operating under Afghanistan-based leadership.
Afghanistan Condemns Strikes
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence condemned the strikes, saying they hit a religious school and residential homes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.
According to Afghan authorities, at least 17 people were confirmed dead, with six others missing and feared trapped under rubble. The ministry described the attacks as a violation of international law and principles of good neighbourliness.
“We hold the Pakistani military responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites. We will respond in due course with a measured and appropriate response,” the ministry said in a statement.
Background: Rising Cross-Border Tensions
The strikes come amid renewed violence in Pakistan. Just hours before the air raids, a suicide bomber attacked a security convoy in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.
Earlier in the week, a suicide bombing in Bajaur killed 11 soldiers and a child. Pakistani authorities later identified the attacker as an Afghan national.
On February 6, a suicide bomber detonated explosives during noon prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan area, killing at least 31 worshippers and injuring more than 170. ISKP claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan’s military has previously said that planning and training for some of these attacks took place in Afghanistan.
Doha Agreement Cited
Pakistan reiterated that under the 2020 Doha Agreement between the Taliban and the United States, Afghan soil was not to be used by armed groups against other countries. Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to act against TTP operatives, accusing the Taliban-led government of failing to take substantive measures.
The Taliban government has consistently denied harbouring anti-Pakistan armed groups.
Fragile Ceasefire at Risk
The air strikes threaten a fragile ceasefire mediated by Qatar in October last year, following deadly border clashes that resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides.
While the ceasefire has largely held, subsequent negotiations in Istanbul failed to formalise a lasting agreement. Relations between Islamabad and Kabul remain tense, with both sides exchanging allegations over cross-border attacks.
What Happens Next
Afghanistan’s warning of retaliation raises concerns about renewed military escalation along the border. Analysts say the situation could undermine regional stability unless diplomatic channels are revived.
Neither side has indicated immediate plans for de-escalation, though Pakistan has urged the international community to press Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to uphold their commitments under the Doha framework.
Further developments are expected as both governments assess the fallout from the strikes.
