Taliban say Pakistani airstrikes killed 46 people in eastern Afghanistan, mostly women and children
Associated Press2 days
Taliban: Pakistani Airstrikes on Afghanistan Kill at Least 46
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Above: Afghan victims injured in a Pakistani air strike receive medical treatment at a hospital in Sharan, capital of Paktika province, on Dec. 25, 2024. Image copyright: Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Taliban authorities said on Wednesday that at least 46 unarmed refugees, primarily women and children, died, and six more were wounded in the province of Paktika, eastern Afghanistan, as Pakistan carried out airstrikes the previous night.
Kabul summoned Pakistan's top diplomat and delivered him a formal protest note regarding the bombardments, warning that similar "irresponsible actions" would meet consequences.
The Spin
Narrative A
Pakistan has carried out heinous airstrikes that killed dozens of civilians in Afghanistan in breach of its neighbor's sovereignty as well as of international principles. These actions can further escalate regional tensions, yet the international community fails to hold Islamabad accountable.
Narrative B
Pakistan has successfully neutralized dozens of terrorists in its airstrikes in the Afghan province of Paktika, including several key commanders, and destroyed four of their main hideouts. Make no mistake, Islamabad was forced to act across the border because the Taliban has yet to fulfill its promises to act against anti-Pakistan terrorists on Afghan soil.
