At least 13 people, including 11 children, lost their lives following a series of Pakistani airstrikes targeting provinces along the Afghan border. According to Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, the military incursions hit residential areas in Kunar, Khost, and Paktika, marking one of the most lethal incidents in recent weeks. Local sources confirmed that families were inside their homes when the strikes occurred, leading to significant casualties and leaving several others wounded in the Spera and Barmal districts.

While Pakistan’s government and military have yet to issue an official statement, Islamabad has consistently maintained that such operations are directed at militant groups, specifically the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), rather than the civilian population. Tensions between the two nations have remained high since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with Pakistan frequently accusing the Afghan government of providing safe harbor to insurgents. Conversely, Kabul denies these allegations, arguing that these military actions violate its sovereignty and exacerbate a volatile border situation that has already claimed hundreds of lives this year.