Pakistan carried out attacks after ceasefire ended: Afghanistan

Pakistan’s army has launched attacks in south-eastern Afghanistan, hours after the two-day ceasefire ended. An Afghan police officer gave this information.

Police spokesman Mohammadullah Amini Mawia said the bombings took place in south-eastern Paktika province and two other areas near the Pakistan border, including one that hit a civilian’s house in Khandar village.

According to local media reports, the air strikes targeted residential areas of Argun and Barmal districts of the country. This resulted in a large number of civilian casualties. Six women and a child were also among the injured. More airstrikes were carried out shortly after the initial attacks. In these, houses of common people were targeted. According to the report, the number of casualties in this second round of attacks has not been confirmed. Afghanistan has not yet issued any official response to the incident.

A provincial hospital official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told news agency AFP that ten civilians were killed and 12 others were injured in the attacks. He also said that two children were also among the dead. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Cricket Board told AFP that three players who were in the area for a tournament were also killed. The board also said that it is withdrawing from the upcoming triangular T20 series with Pakistan next month.

The deadly attacks came amid a 48-hour ceasefire agreement between the two countries following days of cross-border clashes. Earlier, Pakistan had called for extending the ceasefire till the end of the ongoing Doha talks aimed at reducing tensions and stopping cross-border violence.