KABUL: Pakistan air strikes in an eastern border province of Afghanistan had killed 46 people, the Taliban government spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.
There has been no official comment from Pakistani authorities on the latest strike in Afghan territory.
“Last night [Tuesday], Pakistan bombarded four points in the Barmal district of Paktika province. The total number of dead is 46, most of whom were children and women,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
He added that six more people were wounded, mostly children.
An Afghan defense ministry statement late Tuesday condemned the latest strikes by Pakistan on Afghan territory, calling them “barbaric” and a “clear aggression.”
“The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered, but rather considers the defense of its territory and sovereignty to be its inalienable right,” the statement said, using the Taliban authorities’ name for the government.
Deadly air strikes by Pakistan’s military in the border regions of Afghanistan in March that the Taliban authorities said killed eight civilians prompted skirmishes on the frontier.
A Barmal resident, Maleel, told AFP Tuesday’s strikes killed 18 members of one family.
“The bombardment hit two or three houses, in one house, 18 people were killed, the whole family lost their lives,” he said.
He said a strike killed three people in another house and wounded several others, who were taken to hospital.
Border tensions between the two countries have escalated since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Pakistan battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions.
Islamabad has accused Kabul’s Taliban authorities of harboring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity.
Kabul has denied the allegations.
The strike comes after the Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and share a common ideology with their Afghan counterparts, last week claimed a raid on an army outpost near the border with Afghanistan, which Pakistani intelligence officials said killed 16 soldiers.
Earlier Tuesday, high-level Taliban officials were meeting with Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan who was on a visit to Kabul.
Pakistan air strikes kill 46 in Afghanistan — Taliban spokesman
https://arab.news/6j7ea
Pakistan air strikes kill 46 in Afghanistan — Taliban spokesman
- Zabihullah Mujahid says most of the dead were women and children, six wounded, mostly children
- There has been no official comment from Pakistani authorities on the latest strike in Afghan territory
Pakistan PM urges unity, economic resilience in New Year message
- Sharif says Pakistan stabilized economy, countered security threats in 2025
- The prime minister vows reform, unity and diplomacy as the country enters 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged national unity, economic resilience and a continued focus on reform in a New Year message on Wednesday, saying the country had weathered security and economic challenges in 2025 and must now build on its gains as it enters 2026.
Sharif’s statement comes as Pakistan seeks to consolidate macroeconomic stabilization and navigate a volatile regional and global environment. He framed the year ahead as one requiring cohesion, discipline and sustained reform, while reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
“Over the past year, we responded to the aggression of enemies and countered the menace of terrorism with matchless courage and bravery, both on the battlefield and in negotiation rooms,” the prime minister said in a post on social media platform X.
“We have also taken meaningful steps to strengthen economic fundamentals, improve governance, expand social protection, and lay the groundwork for long-term development,” he added. “Our efforts are guided by our collective resolve to build a stable, self-reliant, and prosperous Pakistan that delivers opportunity and dignity to every citizen.”
Sharif said Pakistan had begun to restore confidence through fiscal discipline, structural reforms and renewed momentum in investment, exports and energy security, crediting the public’s “hard work, patience, and sacrifices” for recent progress.
On foreign policy, he said the country would continue to prioritize dialogue and cooperation amid rising instability.
“At a time of global uncertainty and conflict, Pakistan will continue to advocate dialogue over confrontation, development over division, and cooperation over unilateralism,” he said.
“With unity, discipline, and hard work, we shall build a Pakistan that is economically strong, socially just, and resilient in the face of challenges,” Sharif added.
