NEW DELHI, India, October 3 (ANI): The Russian Embassy in Afghanistan has expressed deep concern over the ongoing military confrontation between Islamabad and Kabul, pointing to the toll on civilians, particularly children.
Highlighting the rising human cost of Pakistan’s military operations across the border, the Embassy wrote in a post on X, “We are seriously concerned about the ongoing military confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which affects civilians, including children.”
The concerns from Moscow come amid scrutiny over Pakistan’s military actions along its western border, which have resulted in civilian casualties and heightened regional tensions across South and Central Asia.
Meanwhile, recent Pakistani airstrikes killed nine people and injured 11 others on Thursday across Afghan territory, according to the Afghan government.
The bombardment targeted residential areas, destroying three houses in Kunar and Helmand provinces, Afghan government chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed in a post on X.
Confirming the civilian casualties resulting from the military action, the chief spokesperson stated that at least nine people were killed, including women and children.
“We condemn this act as an aggression and crime in violation of all accepted principles,” Mujahid said.
The deadly strikes form part of a pattern of military actions by Pakistan, which has repeatedly carried out airstrikes inside Afghan territory as bilateral tensions escalated amid longstanding border disputes.
This came days after Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces killed three civilians.
According to a TOLOnews report, the Rakha and Torkandi areas of Barmal district in Paktika province were targeted in two separate strikes early Monday. A separate strike in Kunar reportedly killed three people and injured several others.
Subsequently, the Afghan government accused the Pakistani military of targeting civilian areas and described the strikes as a repetition of what it called “crimes” against Afghanistan. The government further vowed an “appropriate response” to Pakistani airstrikes.
The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan reported last week that it had documented more than 1,100 civilian casualties resulting from cross-border violence so far this year.
While Pakistan routinely denies civilian casualties and says it targets militants, Kabul has rejected allegations that it harbors militant groups.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan government of allowing factions such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to operate from Afghan soil, allegations that Kabul has dismissed as unfounded and part of Pakistan’s attempts to shift blame for its internal security challenges. (ANI)
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