The death toll from Pakistani airstrikes in the Barmal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan has risen to 46 and six people have been injured, Khaama Press reported.
According to Khaama Press, Taliban authorities have condemned the airstrikes that targeted four areas in Afghanistan on December 24.
The Pakistani military said airstrikes targeted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in the region, resulting in the deaths of several militants and the destruction of four TTP camps, Khama Press reported, shutting down Pakistani media outlets. To Pakistan Army.
However, the Taliban Defense Ministry argued that the strike also hit “Waziristani refugees”, denying claims that only militants were targeted.
The escalation of violence has raised tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the Taliban warning of retaliation, Khaama Press reported.
The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has increased attacks against Pakistani forces in recent months and accused Pakistan of harboring Afghan Taliban fighters, Khama Press reported.
Enayatullah Kwarazmi, a spokesman for the Taliban’s defense ministry, denied Pakistani claims that “civilian people, mostly Waziristan refugees” had been killed in the airstrikes, posting on X.
Khwarazmi added that “children and several other civilians were martyred and wounded” in the attack, but no official casualty figures were given. Sources reported that at least 15 bodies, including women and children, have been recovered and the death toll is expected to rise as search operations continue.
Waziristani refugees are civilians displaced by military operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas. However, many TTP commanders and fighters have fled to Afghanistan and are being protected by the Afghan Taliban in the border provinces, Khaama Press reported.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have been building for some time due to the continued presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring these militants, while the Taliban insist they do not cooperate with the group.
