At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed in a series of airstrikes carried out by Pakistan in the Barmal area of Paktika province, Afghanistan, on December 24, 2024. Numerous villages were hit by the strikes; Laman and Murg Bazaar saw the most damage, with whole families impacted.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant organization that has posed a growing danger to Pakistani security from its bases in Afghanistan, is thought to have been the target of these airstrikes carried out by the Pakistani military. The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense affirmed their right to retaliation and denounced the assault as a breach of international norms. Many of the victims, they said, were Waziristani refugees who had been uprooted by earlier Pakistani military operations.
Local reports said that because of continuous recovery activities in the impacted areas, the death toll may increase as rescue operations continue. With extensive damage reported and residents expecting more violence, the bombings have made the region’s already severe humanitarian situation worse.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have significantly increased as a result of this occurrence, especially since both countries accuse one another of harboring militants who pose a threat to their respective national security.
