Pakistan's double-tap airstrikes along Afghanistan border leave 35 dead, Kabul alleges civilian casualties
PTC Web Desk: Pakistan double-tap airstrikes have triggered fresh tensions along the Afghanistan border after at least 35 persons were killed in a military operation, according to official claims from both countries. While Pakistan says the strikes targeted terrorist hideouts, Afghanistan has accused Islamabad of killing civilians, including women and children.
The Pakistan double-tap airstrikes were carried out in eastern Afghanistan, with Islamabad claiming the operation was aimed at militant groups responsible for recent terror attacks inside Pakistan. Afghan authorities, however, rejected the claim and said the attacks struck residential areas, causing heavy civilian casualties.
The Pakistan double-tap airstrikes have drawn attention because of the alleged use of the controversial "double-tap" tactic, in which a second strike follows shortly after the first, hitting the same location when rescuers and local residents arrive to assist the injured.
A double-tap strike refers to a military tactic where a second attack is launched on the same target shortly after the initial strike. The method has been widely criticised by humanitarian organisations because it can endanger first responders, medical teams and civilians attempting rescue operations.
According to reports, Pakistani fighter jets carried out strikes in the Afghan districts of Gyan (Paktika Province), Chamkani (Paktia Province), and Marawara (Kunar Province). Pakistan says the operation targeted hideouts of the banned militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Pakistan maintains that the military operation was launched in response to a series of recent terrorist attacks, including an attack on a Pakistan Rangers camp in Karachi that killed security personnel.
Officials said intelligence-based ground operations were followed by precision airstrikes targeting militant infrastructure along the border. Islamabad insists the operation was directed only at terrorist bases.
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has strongly condemned the strikes, calling them an act of aggression. Afghan officials claimed that more than 35 civilians lost their lives, including elderly people and young children, while over 100 others were injured.
Authorities in Kabul also denied Pakistan's allegation that militant groups were operating from the targeted locations, insisting that the strikes hit civilian neighbourhoods instead.
Residents who survived the strikes alleged that homes were bombed without warning. Some eyewitnesses claimed that a second round of airstrikes took place while villagers were attempting to rescue those trapped under the rubble, leading to a sharp rise in casualties.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Both countries have repeatedly exchanged accusations over cross-border militancy, while military operations along the frontier continue despite previous ceasefire efforts.
The latest strikes are expected to further increase tensions between the neighbouring countries as both sides continue to defend their respective positions.
- With inputs from agencies
