Paktika: Hours after a short-lived ceasefire came to an end, Pakistan reportedly carried out aerial assaults in southeastern Afghanistan, reigniting tensions between the two neighboring countries. Afghan officials say the strikes resulted in multiple casualties, targeting areas near the shared border.
According to Mohammadullah Amini Mavia, a spokesperson for the Afghan police, the air raids took place in Paktika province and in nearby districts, including Khandar village, where a residential building was reportedly hit. Afghan authorities claim several civilians were killed in the attack, though the exact death toll remains unconfirmed.
Pakistan has not officially commented on the strikes or the civilian casualties reported by Afghan sources.
The two-day truce, which began midweek, brought a brief pause to an escalating series of cross-border confrontations that have already claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds wounded. The ceasefire expired Friday evening, and although diplomatic backchannels remain active, violence has resumed.
Just hours before the renewed offensive, a deadly suicide bombing occurred on the Pakistani side of the border in Mir Ali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack targeted a security forces compound and was followed by an intense exchange of gunfire. At least six suspected militants and one Pakistani soldier were killed in the ensuing clash.
Pakistani authorities attributed the bombing to a faction of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur. The TTP, which has links to the Afghan Taliban but operates independently, has long been accused by Islamabad of using Afghan territory as a base for launching attacks inside Pakistan.
In response to the growing unrest, both nations appear to be moving toward diplomatic engagement. Zabiullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for the Taliban government in Kabul, confirmed that a delegation is preparing to depart for Qatar, where peace talks may be hosted.
“Our stance is unchanged—we do not seek war with Pakistan or with any other country,” Mujahid stated.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s state-run media reported that a senior diplomatic team would also be heading to Qatar for discussions, though no details about the delegation or the scope of the talks have been released. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan in Islamabad said he was not in a position to provide further information but indicated that Pakistan would issue an official statement if talks were confirmed.
Pakistan maintains that its recent military actions were targeted strikes against militant hideouts, not aimed at Afghan civilians or government forces. However, the growing number of cross-border incidents continues to deepen mistrust between Islamabad and Kabul.
Since the beginning of the year, Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks, many of which have been attributed to the TTP. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan to dismantle safe havens allegedly used by militants to carry out operations against Pakistani forces.
As violence flares once again, the region remains on edge, and the success of the proposed peace talks in Qatar could be critical in preventing a broader conflict.
