Pakistan Launches Midnight Airstrikes in Afghanistan, Targets Terrorist Hideouts

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Sunday night targeting terrorist camps in Afghanistan, intensifying tensions in the region. The strikes targeted camps in the Paktika and Barmal areas of Afghanistan, as well as Shawal in North Waziristan, around 8:00 PM. Airstrikes were also reported in the Paktia and Khost provinces of Afghanistan. In a separate development, a clash broke out between Afghan Taliban fighters and Pakistani forces along the border in the Lalpur district of Nangarhar. The Pakistani army is focusing on attacking Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts on both sides of the border. This follows a major airstrike by Pakistan in December 2024, which targeted the Barmal district in Paktika province and killed 46 people, including women and children.

Rising Casualties and Destruction

Afghan officials have indicated that the death toll from the latest airstrikes may increase. Multiple villages were reportedly hit, and Pakistani fighter jets have caused significant destruction in various areas of Afghanistan. The escalation comes amid rising attacks by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) on Pakistani forces.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan government of harboring the TTP, which it claims is responsible for cross-border attacks on Pakistani security forces. In the same month, TTP fighters were responsible for the deaths of at least 16 Pakistani soldiers in South Waziristan, one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months.

TTP’s Militant Agenda

The TTP, although pledging loyalty to the Afghan Taliban, operates independently, with the goal of enforcing Islamic law in Pakistan, similar to the Taliban’s actions in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban denies providing refuge to militant groups or allowing cross-border attacks but Pakistan maintains that the TTP has sanctuaries in Afghanistan, fueling ongoing regional conflict.