Afghanistan Times Latest News and Analysis from Afghanistan and the Region
Related Articles
KABUL – Afghanistan on Saturday accused Pakistan of violating a fragile ceasefire with a series of deadly airstrikes that killed at least 10 people in the country’s eastern Paktika province. The overnight raids, which hit three separate locations, came just hours after a 48-hour truce had brought rare calm to the border following a week of intense clashes.
A senior Taliban official told AFP that “Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika,” warning that “Afghanistan will retaliate.” Health officials said among the dead were two children, while at least 12 others were wounded in the strikes.
The Afghan Cricket Board confirmed that three local players were killed in the attacks, calling it a “cowardly act” and announcing the country’s withdrawal from a planned Tri-Nation T20 series involving Pakistan next month. “This is a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community,” the board said in a statement.
Pakistan’s military, however, said its forces conducted “precision aerial strikes” targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, a faction linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it blames for a recent suicide bombing at a military camp that killed seven paramilitary troops.
The renewed hostilities have shattered hopes for peace along the border, where hundreds have fled their homes amid days of shelling and air raids. The United Nations earlier reported at least 37 killed and over 400 wounded on the Afghan side since the fighting began last week, urging both sides to restore calm and prevent further civilian casualties.
