Pakistan conducts air and ground strikes in eastern Afghanistan targeting militants

Pakistan’s armed forces carried out night air strikes on three targets in the eastern Afghan provinces of Baktia, Paktika and Kunar, and conducted simultaneous ground operations along the border. The attacks were presented as a response to recent cross‑border terrorist incidents that killed three Pakistani security personnel in Karachi.

Pakistani officials said the raids destroyed large quantities of weapons and killed between 25 and 29 militants linked to the “Free Group,” a faction associated with the Pakistan‑based Taliban insurgency. The Afghan Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the strikes caused dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children, and condemned the actions as a cowardly act of aggression.