Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of Deadly Airstrikes Killing Women and Children

Afghan officials said on Wednesday that Pakistani airstrikes killed at least nine women and children and wounded 11 others in eastern Afghanistan, in what would be the deadliest cross-border attack in recent months. The strikes reportedly targeted civilian areas, though the exact location and timing were not immediately confirmed by independent sources.

The Afghan government condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of international law and an act of aggression. A spokesperson for the Taliban administration said the victims were innocent civilians, including women and children, and warned of consequences. Pakistan has not yet issued a statement, but the two countries have traded accusations over militant safe havens and border incursions in the past.

The incident threatens to further destabilize already fragile relations between Islamabad and Kabul, which have deteriorated since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. International observers are urging restraint and calling for an independent investigation. The United Nations has repeatedly expressed concern over civilian casualties in the region, and this latest attack could prompt renewed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.