Pakistan conducted airstrikes targeting suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on December 24, 2024. According to various reports, these strikes hit a training facility and resulted in the deaths of several individuals, with estimates of casualties ranging from 15 to over 25, including civilians such as women and children.
The Afghan Defense Ministry has strongly condemned these attacks, claiming they targeted civilians, particularly refugees from Pakistan’s Waziristan region. They described the strikes as a “brutal act against all international principles” and warned of retaliation, suggesting that such unilateral measures are not a solution to any problem.
These airstrikes follow a pattern of increasing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan Taliban of harboring TTP militants. The strikes were also noted to have occurred shortly after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, visited Kabul to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Security experts in Pakistan have stated that these strikes serve as a warning to the TTP, indicating Pakistan’s readiness to target the group both inside and outside its borders. However, there is also mention of efforts by Pakistan to minimize civilian casualties by focusing on militant bases.
The situation remains tense, with the potential for further escalation due to the civilian casualties and the ongoing issue of cross-border militancy.
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