Did Pakistani Forces Attack Khost, Afghanistan, Killing Nine Children?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ten civilians, including nine children, were killed in Khost due to an airstrike.
- The attack has sparked fears of escalating violence along the border.
- Afghan government officials have condemned the strike.
- This incident follows a brief lull in cross-border violence.
- Both nations have confirmed significant military losses in recent confrontations.
Kabul, Nov 25 (NationPress) A tragic incident unfolded as Pakistani military forces targeted a civilian area in Khost province, resulting in the deaths of at least ten individuals, including nine children, according to the Afghan government on Tuesday.
The strike reportedly happened shortly after midnight, hitting the residence of a local citizen, reigniting fears of escalating tensions along the border.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the interim Afghan government, confirmed that the attack occurred around 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday in the Mughalgai region of Khost's Gurbuz district.
He noted in a post on X that "the Pakistani invading forces bombed the home of local civilian Waliat Khan, son of Qazi Mir. Tragically, nine children (five boys and four girls) and one woman lost their lives, and the house was completely destroyed."
Mujahid also reported that additional airstrikes were executed that same night, stating, "Airstrikes also took place in Kunar and Paktika, leading to injuries for four civilians."
This recent strike in Khost has raised alarm over the potential for renewed violence, as tensions rise in this volatile border region. This follows a brief period of reduced cross-border aggression after intense confrontations in October.
On October 9, Pakistan initiated airstrikes across Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad, and Paktika, prompting retaliatory actions from the Afghan Taliban. Between the nights of October 11 and 12, Taliban forces engaged multiple Pakistani military posts along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, resulting in heavy exchanges of fire.
Following these assaults, the Taliban's Ministry of Defense announced their operations had concluded, although Pakistani officials denied any ceasefire and continued military actions.
A Taliban spokesperson confirmed that fighting persisted into the morning hours of October 12.
Both nations claimed to have inflicted substantial losses on each other, with numerous border positions destroyed or seized.