At least nine Afghan civilians have been killed in a bombing attack carried out by Pakistan in Khost province, Afghanistan, according to Al Jazeera, citing the Afghan government. Among the dead are eight children and one woman, highlighting the severe impact on civilian populations.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 25 November, with Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government of Afghanistan, stating that Pakistan launched the attack at midnight. In addition to Khost, Pakistan reportedly conducted simultaneous strikes in northern Kunar and eastern Paktia provinces, killing at least four more civilians.
Mujahid described the attack on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Pakistan has bombed the homes of ordinary people. At least nine children (five boys and four girls) have been killed, and many houses have been destroyed.” As of the latest reports, Pakistan has not issued any public comment regarding the civilian casualties in Khost.
However, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a statement regarding operations conducted on Monday, claiming that their security forces had acted on intelligence about the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members, referred to in Pakistan as “fitna al-khawarij.” The statement asserts that during the operation, Pakistan’s forces targeted terrorist positions and, following a gunfight, 22 Khawarij members were killed.
The ISPR emphasised that counter-terrorism operations by Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full capacity to eliminate foreign-backed terrorism, underscoring Pakistan’s stated aim of neutralising militant threats along its border regions.
A summary of the reported events is provided below:
| Location | Casualties / Description |
|---|---|
| Khost Province | 9 civilians killed (8 children, 1 woman) |
| Kunar Province | At least 4 civilians killed |
| Paktia Province | Part of simultaneous strikes; civilian casualties included |
| Pakistan Operation (ISPR claim) | 22 TTP / Khawarij members killed |
The incident has intensified tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the civilian death toll prompting international concern over cross-border military actions and their impact on non-combatants. Analysts warn that continued operations in densely populated areas risk further civilian casualties and escalation of conflict.
SS