Pakistan launches cross-border strikes in Afghanistan after deadly attack on FC personnel

Pakistan carried out precision strikes against what it described as terrorist camps in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, following an attack that killed six Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel near Peshawar.

Security sources said the strikes targeted militant infrastructure in Kunar, Khost and Paktika provinces. Afghanistan condemned the operation and said 13 civilians were killed.

Why did Pakistan launch cross-border strikes in Afghanistan?

Pakistan said the strikes were based on actionable intelligence and targeted camps used by militants to plan attacks inside Pakistan.

The military action came after six FC personnel were killed confronting TTP militants near Peshawar. The strikes hit locations in Kunar's Shultan district, Paktika's Barmal district and Khost's Spera district.

What triggered the Pakistan-Afghanistan cross-border strikes?

The FC personnel were killed a day before the strikes while confronting terrorists linked to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan during an operation in the Hassan Khel area on the outskirts of Peshawar.

The six personnel were identified as Naik Amir, Lance Naik Muhammad Yousaf, Lance Naik Muhammad Riaz, Sepoy Ajmeer, Sepoy Ehsan and Sepoy Riaz. Funeral prayers were held with full official honors at the Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Peshawar on Tuesday.

Pakistani security sources said the cross-border operation was directed at militant hideouts and support infrastructure used to stage attacks against Pakistan. The strikes were described as targeted and intelligence-based. No further operational details were released.

How did Afghanistan respond to the Pakistan strikes?

Afghan authorities strongly condemned the operation. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said Pakistani military aircraft violated Afghan airspace and bombed civilian areas in Kunar, Khost and Paktika during overnight operations. He called the strikes a "humanitarian crime" and an "act of aggression."

According to Afghan authorities, the strikes killed 11 children, one woman and one elderly man. Fourteen other women and children were also reported injured. Pakistan has not publicly responded to the civilian casualty allegations.

Can the civilian casualty claims be verified?

Independent verification of claims made by either side was not immediately available. Pakistan has not commented on Afghan allegations of civilian deaths.

The strikes are expected to further strain ties between Islamabad and Kabul, where tensions over cross-border militancy and the presence of TTP militants on Afghan soil have remained a persistent point of conflict.