On Thursday, the United Nations in Afghanistan confirmed that it received credible reports indicating that numerous civilians, including women and children, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes on Paktika province. The UN’s statement declared that the airstrikes on Tuesday constituted a breach of international law and called for an investigation. The statement emphasized that international law requires military forces to take necessary precautions to minimize harm to civilians, including the need to differentiate between civilians and combatants during operations. UNICEF reported that at least 20 children were among the dead. “Children should never be a target,” stated UNICEF South Asia Director Sanjay Wijesekera on X. Afghan authorities noted that at least 46 civilians lost their lives in the airstrikes. The victims were reported to be refugees from Waziristan in Pakistan. Afghanistan called in Pakistan’s chief diplomat in Kabul to express its objections to the attack. The Pakistani diplomat received a “serious protest note” stating that safeguarding Afghanistan’s territory is “a red line” and that such “irresponsible actions” will lead to consequences, according to the Afghan foreign ministry. Pakistan asserts that the airstrikes aimed at suspected hideouts of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for many attacks in Pakistan.
