Pakistani strikes kill at least 28 civilians in Afghanistan, UN says
✓At least 28 civilians were killed after Pakistan launched air strikes and sent ground troops into Afghan provinces along its border on Sunday, the United Nations Afghan mission has said.
A further 49 were injured and women and children were among the victims, according to Unama.
Afghanistan's Taliban government said civilian homes were hit and described the attack as a "cowardly act" and an "atrocity".
Meanwhile, Pakistan said it had targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan's Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces.
The neighbouring countries agreed to a ceasefire last October following weeks of deadly clashes - an agreement that has since fallen apart.
Casualties were concentrated in Mandokhail, a village in the Paktia province, according to Taliban officials.
Adam Khan, 63, told AFP news agency he "cannot put into words the condition of the children I saw at the hospital, or the screams of their parents and siblings".
Those killed in one of the strikes included "children, elderly people and women" sleeping in a house, he said.
Afghanistan's Taliban government put the civilian death toll at 36 and said more than 160 had been injured.
Pakistan's information minister Attaullah Tarar said 29 militants had been killed in an operation responding to "recent terrorist attacks against innocent people".
The BBC has not independently confirmed figures from either side.
The attacks come a day after three members of the Sindh Rangers, a Pakistani paramilitary force, were killed at their headquarters in Karachi, according to Pakistan's military. Three militants also died in the suicide attack, and Pakistani officials said they had arrested a fourth, who was an Afghan.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the TTP, claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack.
Both the TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar are banned in Pakistan, and by the UN, because of their involvement in past attacks.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Pakistan launched air strikes and ground operations in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday. The UN mission reported at least 28 civilian deaths and 49 injured. Pakistan stated it targeted militant hideouts in response to recent terrorist attacks; Afghanistan's Taliban government reported higher figures of 36 deaths and over 160 injured, saying civilian homes were struck. The operation followed a suicide attack in Karachi on Saturday that killed three members of the Sindh Rangers paramilitary force. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a militant faction, claimed responsibility for that attack. The two countries had agreed to a ceasefire last October following earlier clashes, an arrangement that has since broken down.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗
At least 28 civilians were killed after Pakistan launched air strikes and sent ground troops into Afghan provinces along its border on Sunday, the United Nations Afghan mission has said.
A further 49 were injured and women and children were among the victims, according to Unama.
Afghanistan's Taliban government said civilian homes were hit and described the attack as a "cowardly act" and an "atrocity".
Meanwhile, Pakistan said it had targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan's Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces.
The neighbouring countries agreed to a ceasefire last October following weeks of deadly clashes - an agreement that has since fallen apart.
Casualties were concentrated in Mandokhail, a village in the Paktia province, according to Taliban officials.
Adam Khan, 63, told AFP news agency he "cannot put into words the condition of the children I saw at the hospital, or the screams of their parents and siblings".
Those killed in one of the strikes included "children, elderly people and women" sleeping in a house, he said.
Afghanistan's Taliban government put the civilian death toll at 36 and said more than 160 had been injured.
Pakistan's information minister Attaullah Tarar said 29 militants had been killed in an operation responding to "recent terrorist attacks against innocent people".
The BBC has not independently confirmed figures from either side.
The attacks come a day after three members of the Sindh Rangers, a Pakistani paramilitary force, were killed at their headquarters in Karachi, according to Pakistan's military. Three militants also died in the suicide attack, and Pakistani officials said they had arrested a fourth, who was an Afghan.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the TTP, claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack.
Both the TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar are banned in Pakistan, and by the UN, because of their involvement in past attacks.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Pakistan launched air strikes and ground operations in Afghan border provinces on Sunday At least 28 civilians were killed according to the UN Afghan mission, with 49 injured Pakistan said it targeted militant hideouts in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces Afghanistan's Taliban government reported 36 deaths and over 160 injured The strikes hit civilian homes A ceasefire agreed in October between the countries has since collapsed A suicide attack in Karachi on Saturday killed three members of Pakistan's Sindh Rangers paramilitary force Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the Saturday attack The Taliban government described the strikes as a 'cowardly act' and an 'atrocity' Pakistan characterized its operation as responding to 'recent terrorist attacks against innocent people'
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · BBC ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Pakistan conducted air strikes and ground operations in Afghan border provinces on Sunday, killing at least 28 civilians according to UN figures, with 49 injured
- Pakistan said it targeted militant hideouts; Afghanistan's Taliban government reported 36 deaths and over 160 injured from strikes that hit civilian homes
- The strikes follow a suicide attack in Karachi on Saturday that killed three Pakistani paramilitary personnel, claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar
- A ceasefire agreement between the countries from October has collapsed amid escalating cross-border tensions