Tragic Shelling in Afghanistan: Two Children Dead, Nearly 30 Injured in Pakistani Attacks
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Key Takeaways
Kabul, April 3 (NationPress) Reports from local media indicate that at least two children lost their lives and nearly 30 individuals sustained injuries due to shelling and drone assaults executed by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan.
According to Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, these assaults targeted residential zones in the provinces of Kunar, Paktika, and Khost, with the attacks commencing on Wednesday, as reported by Afghanistan's Ariana News.
“Since yesterday, there has been a relentless barrage of mortar, rocket, and drone strikes by Pakistani forces,” he stated, noting that most casualties were civilians, including children.
In the Kunar province, over 150 mortar and artillery shells struck the districts of Sarkano and Manogai, causing injuries to two children and significant damage to property. In the Dosaraki area of Sarkano’s Nawapas region, eight children were injured and two were killed.
Additionally, three civilians were hurt due to a drone strike in the Shkin district of Paktika, and two others were injured in a separate drone strike in the Zazi Maidan district of Khost.
Afghan officials have condemned the Pakistani strikes, asserting that civilian areas are being deliberately targeted, leading to substantial harm to local communities, as per Ariana News.
Tensions have significantly escalated between Kabul and Islamabad in recent months due to these airstrikes and artillery fire, which have resulted in numerous fatalities in war-torn Afghanistan. Meanwhile, discussions commenced between officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan in China's Urumqi on Thursday.
The spokesperson for Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, confirmed that the Afghan delegation traveled to China to engage in talks with Pakistani officials.
On Thursday, Afghanistan's Minister of Economy, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, reported that over 27,000 Afghan families across nine provinces have been displaced due to the military actions of Pakistan, as shared by local media.
During a meeting with representatives from various UN agencies and national and international organizations, Hanif stated that Pakistan has carried out hostile operations against Afghanistan in recent months, as reported by Afghanistan-based Pajhwok Afghan News. He further noted that approximately 27,344 families have been displaced in Nuristan, Zabul, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kandahar provinces.
Hanif highlighted that many of these families currently lack access to essential needs such as adequate food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare. While he mentioned that the Taliban has implemented measures to tackle the economic and livelihood challenges faced by displaced individuals in Afghanistan, he urged UN agencies and partner organizations to provide humanitarian aid.