KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says it has received a “credible report” indicating that “dozens of civilians, including women and children,” were killed in the Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan.
In a post on X today, UNAMA stated that international law obliges military forces to take necessary precautions to protect civilians, including distinguishing between civilians and combatants during operations.
“An investigation is needed to ensure accountability, prevent recurrence and uphold victims’ rights,” UNAMA said.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that at least 20 children were killed in the airstrikes. Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director in Afghanistan, wrote on X today, “Children are not and must never be a target.”
Pakistan’s fighter jets bombed four locations in the Barmal district of eastern Paktika province on Tuesday night, December 24. The Taliban authorities claim the airstrikes killed 46 people, including women and children, mostly Waziristani refugees, and injured six others.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that the country carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan, describing it as an “intelligence-based operation” that killed “terrorists.”
Speaking at a press conference, Zahma Mumtaz Baloch, the ministry’s spokesperson, said that the operation was carried out “based on threats to the security of Pakistani citizens.”
“Our security and law enforcement personal conduct operation in border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terrorist groups,” Baloch said, emphasizing that the operation was carried out based on “solid evidence.”
She, however, dismissed reports that Pakistan targeted and killed women and children in the airstrikes as “baseless.”
Baloch said that Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s integrity and sovereignty and “always prioritized dialogue in matters relating to ties with Afghanistan.” She also said that terrorism is a common challenge that both nations must address together.
The Taliban condemned Pakistan’s airstrike as “a violation of international principles and a clear act of aggression.” The regime’s Ministry of Defense said they “will not leave this cowardly act unanswered.”
The airstrikes have heightened tensions between the Taliban and Islamabad, which have already been strained over the issue of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a militant group responsible for killing dozens of Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harboring TTP leaders and fighters, providing them with training and weapons to carry out cross-border attacks and destabilize the region, an allegation the Taliban has repeatedly denied in the past.
