Children among 40 civilians killed by Pak airstrikes in Afghanistan
Kabul (Afghanistan), April 17: Over 40 Afghan civilians, including children, were killed after Pakistani aircraft launched airstrikes in different parts of Khost and Kunar provinces on Friday night, reported Habib Khan, a journalist and the founder of Afghan peace watch, Afghanistan's independent peace watchdog.
Condemning the incident on Twitter, Khan stated that "For the first time, Pakistani military aircrafts bombarded Afghan soil under the Taliban, killing more than 40 civilians. Though, Pakistan has been killing Afghans through her proxy forces, the Taliban and Mujahideen, for decades."
Khan further shared a picture of the corpses of the people killed in the incident and called the International criminal court and Amnesty International to investigate Pakistani war crimes in the Taliban controlled nation.
Local officials in the provinces of Khost and Kunar stated on Saturday that Pakistani aircraft had carried out airstrikes in various parts of the provinces.
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Following the incident, the Taliban summoned Pakistan's ambassador, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, to voice their displeasure with the incident to the Pakistani government.
The Afghan acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and the acting deputy defence minister Alhaj Mullah Shirin Akhund were present at the meeting, according to the country's foreign ministry, and denounced the attacks by Pakistani forces.
"Pakistani Ambassador to Kabul Summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today. Along with the IEA Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the session also included Deputy Defense Minister Alhaj Mullah Shirin Akhund where the Afghan side condemned the recent," the tweet read.
Meanwhile, analysts say that the attacks indicate Pakistan's direct interference and violation of Afghan national sovereignty, according to ToloNews.
"The airstrikes and ground operations conducted by the Pakistan forces alongside the (Durand Line) in Khost and Kunar are an obvious violation and interference in Afghan airspace and territory," Sadeq Shinwari, a political analyst, told the media outlet.
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-PTC News
