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Taliban Accuse Pakistan of Deadly Airstrikes killing 10 in Eastern Afghanistan as Border Tensions Escalate

By The South Asia Times

KABUL - The Taliban on Tuesday accused Pakistani forces of carrying out deadly overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern border provinces, alleging the attack killed at least nine children and a woman in Khost province.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors and stalled peace efforts aimed at easing long-running disputes.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government, claimed on social media that Pakistani aircraft bombed the home of a civilian in the Mughalgai area of Gorbuz district around midnight. The airstrike, he said, also destroyed the house belonging to a man identified as Waliat Khan.

Mujahid added that additional strikes in Kunar and Paktika provinces injured at least four civilians. “Pakistani invading forces” were responsible, he alleged, though no visual evidence or independent verification was immediately available.

There has been no immediate reaction or confirmation from Pakistan regarding the accusations.

The latest claim comes at a time when the two countries are struggling to revive diplomatic communication. Peace talks facilitated by Türkiye and Qatar have so far seen little progress, while cross-border attacks and security concerns continue to overshadow negotiations.

Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains halted at several key crossings, further straining an already fragile relationship. As border violence persists, observers warn that the situation risks worsening without renewed engagement and concrete conflict-prevention measures from both sides.