Pakistan says it carried out air and drone strikes at 10 locations in Afghanistan; Taliban says four civilians killed
What happened Pakistan said it carried out air and drone strikes inside Afghanistan on Thursday, targeting 10 locations across southeastern provinces including Kandahar, Khost and Paktia.
Who said what - Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan conducted “precision aerial and drone strikes” at 10 locations across Afghanistan in retaliation for drone incursions launched from Afghan territory the previous day, and framed the action as taken “in exercise of its sovereign right to self-defence.” (Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan Information Minister) - The Ahlul Haqq Network reported that Pakistan Air Force jets conducted airstrikes targeting strategic infrastructure and alleged militant strongholds in Kandahar and southeastern Afghanistan. (Ahlul Haqq Network) - The Ahlul Haqq Network also reported that the Afghan Taliban confirmed Pakistan struck a Taliban headquarters in Kandahar. (Ahlul Haqq Network) - Al Jazeera reported that Pakistan launched air strikes after drone attacks and noted that strikes carried out in the southeastern province of Khost caused no casualties, citing the provincial governor’s office. (Al Jazeera English) - Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said four civilians were killed in Pakistani airstrikes on parts of Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces. (Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman) - Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai condemned Pakistan’s air and drone strikes on parts of Kandahar, Khost and Paktia provinces and called on Islamabad to change its policy toward Afghanistan. (Hamid Karzai, former President of Afghanistan)
Figures - Four people killed: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said four civilians were killed in the strikes. (Zabihullah Mujahid) - No other authoritative source in the available reports gave a figure for people killed or injured, and Pakistan’s statements did not give casualty figures. (Attaullah Tarar; Pakistan statements reported by Dawn, Khaama Press)
Other details - Dawn and Khaama Press echoed Pakistan’s statement that the strikes were carried out against sites “used for launching and storing these drones” and described them as deliberate, precise, calibrated and limited to identified military objectives, citing Attaullah Tarar. (Dawn; Khaama Press) - Khaama Press and other reports said Taliban authorities reported the strikes began at around 3:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, September 24. (Khaama Press) - The accounts differ on whether a specific Taliban headquarters in Kandahar was struck: Ahlul Haqq Network reported the Taliban confirmed a strike on its headquarters in Kandahar; Pakistan’s statements reported by Pakistani media described strikes at 10 locations but did not confirm a targeted headquarters in Kandahar. (Ahlul Haqq Network; Attaullah Tarar reported by Dawn, Khaama Press) - Al Jazeera cited the Khost governor’s office saying strikes in Khost caused no casualties. (Al Jazeera English)
Timeline - Pakistan’s Information Minister posted the statement on X in the early hours of Thursday; media reports placed the strikes at around 3:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, September 24. (Attaullah Tarar; Khaama Press)
Unresolved or contradictory points - Casualty figures: the Taliban (Zabihullah Mujahid) said four civilians were killed; Pakistan’s statements gave no casualty figures and Al Jazeera cited Khost officials saying there were no casualties in Khost. The reports therefore differ on the overall casualty toll and its distribution by province. (Zabihullah Mujahid; Attaullah Tarar; Al Jazeera English) - Targeting of a specific Taliban headquarters in Kandahar: Ahlul Haqq Network reported the Taliban confirmed a strike on its headquarters in Kandahar; Pakistan’s public statements described strikes at 10 locations without confirming a named headquarters. (Ahlul Haqq Network; Attaullah Tarar reported by Dawn, Khaama Press)
Sources Attaullah Tarar (Pakistan Information Minister); Ahlul Haqq Network; Dawn; Al Jazeera English; Khaama Press; Zabihullah Mujahid (Taliban spokesman); Hamid Karzai.
Pictures and video - One picture was collected with no caption.
Sources
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