Pakistan’s Second Airstrike on Afghanistan’s Paktika Province in 2024 Kills 46, Mostly Women and Children

Pakistan Conducts Second Airstrike on Afghanistan’s Paktika Province, Raising Tensions

In a significant escalation of cross-border tensions, Pakistan carried out its second airstrike on Afghanistan’s Paktika province in less than a year. The airstrike, which took place on December 25, 2024, targeted what Islamabad identified as a training facility used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group operating out of Afghanistan. The bombing has resulted in the deaths of at least 46 people, including 30 women and children, according to Afghan officials. This tragic toll has spurred outrage within Afghanistan and further fueled the already tense diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries.

The attack occurred in the Sharan district of Paktika, a region that has been a hotspot for insurgent activity. While the Pakistani military maintains that it was targeting militants linked to the TTP, the Afghan government has condemned the strikes as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and an indiscriminate assault on civilians. The Taliban, who have controlled Afghanistan since 2021, issued a stern warning of retaliation, accusing Pakistan of breaching international norms.

The Pakistani military’s involvement in airstrikes in Afghanistan has increased in recent months due to the growing presence of TTP militants within Afghan territory. The TTP, which has long fought for the establishment of an Islamic state in Pakistan, has become an increasing threat to Pakistan’s security. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of failing to prevent cross-border terrorism, especially from Taliban-controlled areas that harbor the TTP and other militant groups.

Details of the Attack

According to the Afghan Ministry of Defense, the airstrike occurred in the early hours of December 25, when Pakistani jets bombed several locations in the Sharan district. Initial reports suggested that the casualties were mostly women and children living in civilian homes near a suspected TTP training camp. The Pakistani military claims the target was a facility where insurgents were reportedly trained, and several militants, including high-ranking TTP members, were believed to be present.

Afghan authorities, however, have disputed the claim, insisting that the attack had hit civilian areas with no connection to the TTP. In response to the strike, the Afghan government has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, urging the international community to intervene and hold Pakistan accountable for its actions.

The Afghan Taliban, which has governed Afghanistan since its rapid takeover in 2021, condemned the airstrikes and vowed to take retaliatory action. In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denounced the bombing as a violation of international law, accusing Pakistan of waging a “war on innocent Afghan civilians.” He further stated that the Taliban would take all necessary measures to protect Afghan sovereignty and safeguard its people from foreign aggression.

A Pattern of Escalating Tensions

This airstrike represents the second such Pakistani attack on Afghanistan within a year. The first occurred in March 2024, when Pakistan targeted another TTP base in eastern Afghanistan, also in the Paktika region. That strike, too, resulted in civilian casualties, sparking protests in Afghanistan and condemnation from the international community. Pakistan defended that operation as a necessary counterterrorism measure aimed at curbing the growing threat of TTP insurgents operating along the porous Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The continuous bombardment of Afghan territory by Pakistan has raised alarms about the possibility of further military escalation. While Pakistan claims that it is acting in self-defense against cross-border terrorism, critics argue that such actions undermine the peace process and risk destabilizing an already volatile region. The United Nations has called for restraint from both sides, urging Pakistan and Afghanistan to seek diplomatic solutions to the ongoing security challenges.

Pakistan’s Justification and Regional Security Concerns

The Pakistani government has justified the airstrikes as a means of protecting its citizens from the escalating TTP insurgency. According to Pakistan’s military, the TTP has been responsible for a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan, including the recent bombing of a school in Peshawar that killed over 50 children. Pakistani officials argue that the TTP’s leadership is based in Afghanistan and that the Afghan Taliban has failed to fulfill its obligations under the Doha Agreement, which was supposed to prevent such groups from operating within Afghan borders.

“The TTP has used Afghan soil as a launching pad for attacks against Pakistan, and the airstrike was a direct response to the threat posed by these militants,” said a senior Pakistani military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

International Reactions and the Path Ahead

The international community has expressed concern over the growing instability in the region. The United States, which has had a complex relationship with both Pakistan and Afghanistan, has called for restraint and urged both nations to engage in dialogue to de-escalate tensions. Other countries, including China and Russia, have similarly called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, while human rights organizations have condemned the civilian toll of the Pakistani airstrikes.

As both Pakistan and Afghanistan stand at a crossroads, the ongoing cycle of violence between the two nations shows no signs of abating. With the Taliban firmly in control of Afghanistan and the TTP continuing its insurgency, the situation remains precarious. The international community now faces a difficult challenge in balancing the need for counterterrorism actions with the protection of civilian lives and the promotion of regional stability.

The question remains: Can Pakistan and Afghanistan find common ground on security matters, or will the tensions between the two nations escalate further, leading to more bloodshed and instability? Only time will tell.

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