Pakistan carries out strikes in Afghanistan after spate of suicide attacks | Pakistan Taliban News
Pakistan Conducts Air Strikes in Afghanistan Following Increased Attacks
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s military has launched air strikes targeting armed groups in Afghanistan, which the government claims are responsible for a series of recent attacks, including a suicide bombing that killed dozens at a Shia mosque in Islamabad.
The strikes occurred on Sunday, hitting two provinces along the Afghan border. Sources within Afghanistan reported to Al Jazeera that a drone strike impacted a religious school in Paktika province, while additional attacks were noted in Nangarhar province.
In a statement released on X, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting described the military operations as “intelligence-based” actions against seven camps linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates. The ministry also indicated that an affiliate of the Islamic State group was targeted during these operations.
The ministry asserted it had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks in Islamabad and in the northwestern Bajaur and Bannu districts were orchestrated by fighters operating under the direction of leaders based in Afghanistan. Pakistan has previously urged the Taliban government to act against these groups, claiming that Afghanistan has not taken substantial measures to address the situation.
“Pakistan has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region,” the ministry noted, emphasizing the security of Pakistani citizens as a primary concern. The air strikes were conducted shortly after a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in Bannu district, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.
On Monday, reports indicated another suicide attack in Bajaur, where an explosives-laden vehicle struck a security post, killing 11 soldiers and a child. Authorities identified the attacker as an Afghan national. This followed a previous suicide bombing on February 6, during midday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad—an incident that claimed the lives of at least 31 worshippers and injured around 170. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for that attack.
Although bombings are infrequent in the heavily guarded capital, the Khadija Tul Kubra incident marked the second such attack in three months, raising concerns about a potential resurgence of violence in Pakistan’s urban centers. The Pakistani military previously stated that the planning and execution of the attack were conducted within Afghanistan.
The Pakistani Information Ministry’s statement reiterated a call for the international community to pressure the Taliban to uphold commitments made in a 2020 agreement with the United States in Doha, which includes preventing the use of Afghan territory for attacks against other nations.
Striking a note of urgency, the ministry argued that adherence to this agreement is vital for regional and global peace and security.
Pakistan has seen a rise in violence in recent years, primarily attributed to the TTP and banned Baloch separatist groups. Islamabad accuses the TTP of operating from within Afghanistan, a claim that the group denies. Meanwhile, the Taliban government has consistently rejected allegations of harboring anti-Pakistan militants.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated since October, when border clashes resulted in numerous casualties among soldiers, civilians, and suspected fighters. These confrontations followed explosions in Kabul, which Afghan authorities attributed to Pakistan.
A ceasefire brokered by Qatar on October 19 has largely endured; however, subsequent negotiations in Istanbul failed to yield a formal agreement.
