KABUL, Afghanistan — Intensified cross-border hostilities between Taliban-led Afghanistan and Pakistan entered a critical phase this Monday, resulting in significant civilian casualties and drawing urgent international attention. Afghan authorities confirmed that at least four civilians, including two children, perished during artillery exchanges along the volatile southeastern frontier.
The United Nations Security Council responded to the escalating crisis by unanimously adopting a resolution demanding Afghanistan’s Taliban government enhance counterterrorism measures. While the resolution refrained from explicitly naming Pakistan, it delivered a forceful condemnation of all terrorist activities occurring within the region. Concurrently, the Council authorized a three-month extension of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Pakistan maintains persistent allegations that Kabul provides sanctuary to militant organizations, specifically the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—a US-designated terrorist group—alongside Baloch separatist factions. These groups are accused of executing attacks against Pakistani security personnel and civilians. Afghan leadership consistently denies these accusations.
Provincial spokesperson Mustaghfar Gurbaz reported that mortar projectiles launched from Pakistani territory struck residential areas in Khost province, demolishing homes and wounding ten additional individuals. This incident follows Sunday’s tragedy in Pakistan’s Bajaur district, where a mortar round allegedly fired from Afghan territory destroyed a home, claiming four lives from a single family and injuring a five-year-old child.
Pakistani military operations have targeted alleged militant positions across the border, with Islamabad characterizing the situation as ‘open war.’ Recent developments include Pakistan’s deployment of airstrikes near Kabul and Kandahar, targeting what it describes as militant infrastructure. Afghan officials counter that these strikes hit a drug rehabilitation center and an inactive security post, causing minimal damage.
Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi emphasized national sovereignty defense as a fundamental citizen duty while expressing profound regret over civilian losses. The conflict originated in late February following Afghan retaliatory attacks against Pakistani airstrikes that killed Afghan civilians. This violence has effectively nullified the Qatar-mediated ceasefire established in October, which previously mitigated border tensions.