At least 13 people, including 11 children, were killed in overnight airstrikes carried out inside Afghanistan near border areas, according to the Taliban government, escalating already strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The strikes reportedly targeted the provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, with officials alleging that civilian homes were hit while residents were asleep, leaving victims with no chance to escape.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced the deaths on social media platform X, accusing Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and bombing residential areas. He stated that among the dead were 11 children, one woman and one elderly man, while 14 others, mostly women and children, were injured in the attacks. Photographs of victims were also shared online, intensifying public outrage in Afghanistan.

Local accounts cited by officials and international news agency reports said that one of the strikes in Khost province’s Spera district hit a house, killing nine people and injuring 10 others. In a separate incident in Paktika’s Barmal district, another home was struck, resulting in the deaths of three children, according to residents in the area. The overnight timing of the attacks has drawn strong condemnation from Afghan authorities.

Also Read: Yogi Adityanath Warns of Demographic Change; Akhilesh Yadav Hits Back at Lucknow Event

There was no immediate official response from Pakistan regarding the allegations. However, Islamabad has repeatedly maintained in the past that its cross-border strikes are aimed at militant groups operating from Afghan territory, particularly the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan accuses of carrying out attacks inside its borders. Afghan authorities have consistently denied these claims, instead accusing Pakistan of violating its sovereignty.

The latest strikes come after a period of relative calm along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border following earlier escalations in February, when both sides exchanged heavy fire and conducted air operations across frontier regions. The renewed violence marks one of the deadliest incidents in recent weeks and raises fears of further deterioration in already fragile bilateral relations.

Tensions between the two neighbours have remained high since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. A United Nations report published earlier highlighted the continuing human cost of cross-border conflict, estimating hundreds of civilian casualties in recent months. With both sides trading accusations, diplomatic efforts to stabilise the border situation appear increasingly strained as violence continues to impact civilians.

Also Read: Fuel Prices Updated: Petrol And Diesel Rates In Major Indian Cities Today