Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes in Afghanistan Following Ceasefire Expiration

Pakistan's military carried out airstrikes in southeastern Afghanistan on Friday, targeting areas in Paktika province and two other regions near the border. The strikes occurred shortly after the expiration of a two-day ceasefire between the neighboring countries. Afghan police spokesman Mohammadullah Amini Mawia reported that the bombings included an attack on a civilian house in Khanadar village, resulting in casualties. Specific details on the delivery method of the strikes were not provided.

The ceasefire, which began on Wednesday, had temporarily halted several days of intense fighting that resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries. The truce concluded on Friday evening without any formal announcement of an extension, though diplomatic efforts to maintain peace were ongoing. Reports indicated that Qatar had offered to host peace talks between the two nations.

The airstrikes followed a suicide car bombing in Mir Ali, a city in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, earlier on Friday. The attack, claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, targeted a security forces compound near the border, leading to an intense shootout that resulted in the deaths of at least six militants and one soldier.

Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group responsible for a surge in militant attacks within Pakistan since January. The TTP is considered a terrorist organization by Pakistani authorities and is believed to operate from bases across the Afghan border.

In response to the escalating tensions, a high-level Pakistani delegation is scheduled to travel to Qatar for talks with Afghanistan. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan emphasized Islamabad's desire for Kabul to prevent the use of Afghan soil for attacks inside Pakistan, stating that recent strikes were aimed solely at targeting militant hideouts.

The recent clashes between the two countries are the most severe since 2021, when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Tensions have remained high along the border, with Pakistan conducting multiple operations against militants in the region, resulting in significant casualties.

The growing discord between Pakistan and Afghanistan is also expected to impact Afghan refugees residing illegally in Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan had repatriated 1.4 million Afghans under a phased plan initiated in 2023, allowing only those with valid Pakistani visas to remain in the country.