Pakistan launched deadly air strikes along its border with Afghanistan on Wednesday, breaking months of relative calm in the region, BBC News reported; the strikes, described as ‘calibrated’ by Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, targeted four locations and killed 26 militants. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Taliban government reported that 13 people, mostly children, were killed in the attacks in three provinces.

Strikes in Response to Recent Terror Attacks

Tarar said the strikes were a response to ‘recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan’ and aimed at ‘hideouts and safe havens’ near the border; these included a training center and an ammunition cache. The bombardment came a day after an attack on security forces near Peshawar, in which the Pakistani government said at least six officers were killed.

‘Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority,’ Tarar said. The comments reflect Pakistan’s long-standing concerns about Afghan soil being used to launch attacks against its territory—a claim the Taliban government rejects.

Civilian Casualties Reported in Afghanistan

Earlier, Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed in Pakistani strikes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika. He also reported that 14 women and children were injured in the attacks, but the Taliban reiterated that Afghanistan has repeatedly denied being used to threaten other countries.

Historical Context of Border Tensions

The current clashes follow an offensive by Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Pakistani military bases near the border in late February, In response, Pakistan bombed targets in Kabul and the provinces of Kandahar and Paktika. These provinces are close to Pakistan’s 2,600km (1,615-mile) border. The strikes were described as the deadliest single attack in Afghanistan’s recent history, including 20 years of war between the Taliban and NATO and Afghan republic forces.