Afghanistan has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan after airstrikes on residential areas allegedly killed 13 civilians, including 11 children…reports Asian Lite News desk
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires in Kabul to formally protest against what it described as a violation of Afghan airspace and deadly airstrikes on residential homes that left 13 civilians dead.
The diplomatic move followed reports that Pakistani airstrikes carried out on the night of June 9 targeted areas in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika. According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, the strikes killed 11 children, one woman and one elderly man, while injuring 14 other women and children.
In a statement posted on X, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry said it had delivered a “strong and resolute protest” to the Pakistani envoy over the alleged breach of Afghan sovereignty.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul and presented him with its strong and resolute protest regarding the violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and the bombing of the homes of innocent civilians,” the ministry said.
The ministry condemned the strikes as a violation of international laws and principles, stressing that protecting the country’s territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of its citizens remain fundamental responsibilities of the Afghan state.
It also criticised Pakistan’s security approach, arguing that military actions against civilians could not be justified as a means of achieving stability.
Questioning Islamabad’s actions, the ministry asked how the killing of women and children in one region could contribute to security in another. It further warned that responsibility for the consequences of such incidents would rest with the Pakistani military.
“We once again explicitly remind you that the responsibility for all the consequences of these repeated violations and crimes will lie with the Pakistan Army,” the statement added.
The latest incident marks another escalation in the increasingly strained relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The two neighbours have exchanged accusations in recent months over cross border militancy and security threats, with both sides blaming each other for contributing to regional instability.
Repeated border clashes and military incidents have raised concerns about the potential for a broader deterioration in relations, while diplomatic efforts and local mediation initiatives have so far failed to ease tensions.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai also condemned the airstrikes, accusing Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and causing civilian casualties, including women and children.
Expressing sympathy with the affected families, Karzai said Pakistan must reconsider its regional policies and move away from what he described as a strategy of conflict and destruction.
In a message posted on X, Karzai said Pakistan was facing the consequences of its own policies and would not achieve its objectives by continuing such actions. He urged Islamabad to pursue good neighbourly relations and constructive engagement with Afghanistan instead of military confrontation.
The reported airstrikes and subsequent diplomatic protest are likely to further complicate relations between the two countries at a time when security concerns along the border remain high and efforts to reduce tensions have produced little progress.
