Kabul claims ‘deliberate targeting’ by Pakistan left 19 Afghans dead

By Berk Kutay Gokmen and Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Afghan government on Friday night said at least 19 civilians were killed after Pakistan hit two of its provinces.

Pakistan has “once again deliberately targeted the residences of ordinary civilians in Khost and Paktika (provinces), resulting in the martyrdom of 19 civilians and injuries to 26 others,” Afghan government deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said in a statement on US social media company X.

“The majority of the martyrs and injured are children and women,” Fitrat added.

In a separate statement, Pakistan Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan had targeted by air 29 locations across Afghanistan from Thursday night to 11: 00 pm local time on Friday.

He claimed the Afghan government had suffered losses of 297 operatives, while 450 others were injured.

Besides, he said, 89 check posts were destroyed while 18 posts were captured by Pakistan.

Earlier, the Afghan government had claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed.

The veracity of claims by the two sides could not be independently confirmed.

Tensions are running high between the two countries after Kabul launched border attacks against Pakistan on Thursday, triggering airstrikes by Islamabad inside Afghanistan.

The death toll on two sides of the border climbed to 48. They include 12 Pakistani soldiers and one civilian, while Kabul said 13 of its soldiers and 22 civilians lost their lives during the clashes.

At least one Pakistani soldier is also missing, according to the Pakistani army.