News Desk
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense has accused Pakistan’s military aircraft of violating Afghan airspace and bombing a refugee camp in the Birmal district of Paktika, resulting in multiple casualties. The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack on X (formerly Twitter), warning that such irresponsible actions would inevitably lead to consequences.
The airstrikes targeted four locations, including TTP media cell chief Muneeb Jutt, his deputy Umar Media, Abu Hamza, and commander Akhtar Muhammad Khaleel from his own faction. At the time of the attack, the TTP was holding a large gathering in the Birmal area. Sources suggest that the strikes may have been a response to the recent increase in TTP-led terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
The airstrikes occurred on the same day that Pakistan’s special envoy, Mohammad Sadiq, was in Kabul, engaged in talks with Taliban officials to ease tensions. This visit was part of renewed efforts to find a political solution to the security issue. Hours after the strikes, Sadiq met with Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Mullah Abdul Kabir.
While diplomatic talks were ongoing to address the TTP issue, the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where a protest note was handed over. However, Pakistan has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense posted three tweets about the alleged airstrike from its official X account, which were retweeted by spokespersons Inayatullah Khwarrizmi and Zabihullah Mujahid. The tweets condemned the attack, calling it an act of aggression and a violation of international norms. Afghanistan emphasized that such actions would not resolve the issue and reiterated its inalienable right to defend its territory, promising a response to the attack.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement on X, warning that such reckless actions would have consequences.
Paktika is an eastern Afghan province along the Durand Line, which borders Pakistan’s three districts: Zhob in Balochistan, and South and North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. South Waziristan was the site of a deadly attack on a military post on December 21, in which 16 security personnel were killed. Pakistan had blamed cross-border militants for the attack.
Pakistan has consistently blamed Afghanistan for allowing the TTP to use Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan. Pakistani officials have repeatedly provided evidence to Afghanistan, but the Afghan government has failed to address these concerns, with militants using Afghan territory with increasing freedom to plan attacks on Pakistan’s security forces, Chinese nationals, and Pakistani citizens.
According to senior Pakistani security officials, Pakistan has repeatedly informed the Afghan government, presenting evidence that its territory is being used against Pakistan. As a last resort, Pakistan has carried out operations within Afghan territory.
The Pakistan Center for Conflict and Security reports that November saw the highest number of attacks this year, with 240 fatalities, including 70 security personnel. Analysts in Pakistan believe that the Afghan government lacks the capacity to take direct action against militant groups operating against Pakistan.
