Taliban Reports Deadly Strike on Afghan Home; Pakistan Denies Crossing Border
At least nine children and a woman were killed in an overnight strike in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. He said the attack destroyed a home in the Gerbzwo (Gurbuz) district and alleged further strikes in Kunar and Paktika, where several civilians were reportedly injured. Taliban officials condemned the action as a violation of Afghan sovereignty and vowed to “respond at the right time.”
Pakistan, however, has denied any involvement, with officials telling media that no Pakistani aircraft conducted operations across the border that night. Islamabad has recently accused militants based in Afghanistan of carrying out attacks in Pakistan, but maintains it is respecting the ceasefire agreement and that the Taliban’s claims are “incorrect.”
The incident comes at a sensitive time for both countries, following months of tensions along the border and Pakistan’s increasing complaints about cross-border militancy. The Taliban insists the victims were civilians and says Pakistan acted on “wrong information,” while international observers warn the dispute risks destabilizing fragile security arrangements in the region.
