Pakistan denies it launched air strikes on Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of launching a deadly attack on three eastern provinces, but the Pakistani military denied the claim and said no such attack was carried out.

Pakistan’s denial came hours after the Afghan government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said X had “bombarded” the house of a civilian in Pakistan’s Khost province, killing nine children and a woman.

He also said that attacks were carried out in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Pktika provinces and four people were injured.

Reaction to yet another violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani forcesThe airstrikes carried out by Pakistani forces last night in Afghanistan’s Pktika, Khost and Kunar provinces constitute a direct attack on Afghanistan’s sovereignty 1/4— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) 25 November 2025

Mujahid described the attacks as “atrocity” and said that the attacks were a “violation of Afghan territory”.

Afghanistan “considers it its legitimate right to use its airspace and territory and defend its people and will give the necessary response at the appropriate time,” he said.

Afghanistan’s new attack report comes more than a month after cross-border clashes broke out when the Afghan government said Pakistani drone strikes had hit Kabul.

Pakistani military spokesman Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry on Tuesday denied the Afghan government’s claim.

Pakistan does not target and kill civilians, he said, stating that strikes carried out in October targeted the hideouts of Pakistani Taliban who were behind the surge of violence in the country.

“We announce and acknowledge such attacks every time we carry out them,” he said at a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

A ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Türkiye between the two sides in October was still in place on Tuesday despite the reported attacks.

There is no comment from Qatar and Türkiye yet.

Iran has also offered to play a role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent weeks.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that he met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, a day after the previously planned visit.

Dar’s office was also expected to make a statement about the meeting.

In Host, citizens combed through the debris of the collapsed house and took their belongings.

Stating that the dead were his cousin’s family, Muhammed Iqbal said, “You see with your own eyes the cruelty of the martyrdom of young children, including a woman and 9 children.”

Local tribal leader Mer Adam Khan said the attack was carried out by a drone flying over the area around midnight.

“It is not known where it came from and by whom,” he said, adding that the home that was destroyed was that of a local man, whom he identified as Shariat Khan.

“He has not intervened in any government. He is living a bad life here,” the tribal leader said.