Pakistan says carried out new strikes in Afghanistan targeting armed groups

The Pakistani information minister said Monday that his country carried out airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan targeting armed groups in response to deadly attacks.

“Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes,” said information minister Attaullah Tarar in a statement, referring to three eastern Afghanistan provinces and adding that the strikes killed 25 fighters.

He said the offensive also included ground operations in border regions and targeted Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a group often linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Tarar said Pakistan’s overnight operations were in response to an attack that killed three paramilitary troops in the southern city of Karachi on Saturday as well as recent violence in its border provinces.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes have killed or wounded dozens of civilians.

The airstrikes hit Paktika, Paktia and Kunar provinces, Mujahid said as he condemned the Pakistani military actions as a “cowardly act of aggression” in an X post.

Pakistan has carried out a series of airstrikes on Afghanistan in recent months, the last one earlier this month.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban government of sheltering armed groups behind a surge in attacks, particularly the TTP, which has waged a violent campaign against Pakistan for years.

Kabul has repeatedly denied Afghan territory is used to harbour armed groups and says past Pakistani airstrikes have killed civilians.

The border between the neighbours has remained largely closed since a flare-up in violence in October, freezing bilateral trade.