KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities say at least 66 civilians have been killed and 59 others wounded in Pakistani airstrikes across Afghanistan since 21 February.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban administration, said in a statement on Saturday (28 February) that women and children were among the casualties. He added that eight houses were completely destroyed and 14 others partially damaged, with significant financial losses reported among civilians.
Pakistan carried out airstrikes late Thursday night targeting locations in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika.
According to Taliban officials, a religious school in Paktika was hit but no casualties were reported there. However, in Nangarhar, residential houses were allegedly struck, killing 17 people, including 11 children.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that 13 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the strikes in Nangarhar province.
In addition, Local sources in Kunar province reported that nine civilians were killed and four others injured after Pakistani rockets struck the provincial capital, Asadabad, on Friday night. The rockets reportedly hit civilian homes in the Dandoon area, causing heavy damage. Sources said women and children were among the victims.
The cross-border violence escalated after Taliban forces carried out retaliatory attacks on Pakistani border posts late last Thursday. Clashes between the two sides have continued since then.
In the past two days, Pakistan has reportedly bombed targets in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Paktika, Kunar, Khost, Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.
The Taliban have also confirmed the deaths of 13 of their own fighters in the ongoing clashes. Pakistan has not yet issued a detailed public response regarding the latest casualty figures.
