Afghan officials say at least three people were killed in Pakistani airstrikes to the northeast of Afghanistan on Monday, following nearly three months of peace to reignite the fighting between neighbouring countries.
The strikes reportedly affected mainly the areas of Kunar and Paktika provinces. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Taliban, said a house in the district of Nurgal Kunar was attacked killing three people of the same family along with four who were injured. Two other places were also bombed in Paktika’s Barmal district, setting ablaze a shop and an unoccupied house, but there were no casualties reported in the area.
The recent deadlock between Islamabad and Kabul about militancy is a prolonged one. Pakistan has previously pointed out that the militants, especially the rebel group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were operating from parts of Afghanistan territory and unleashing attacks into Pakistan. Kabul has rejected the accusations and dismissed the idea that militancy within Pakistan is an internal affair.
The airstrikes came after a string of violent attacks on the Pakistani security forces. Police officials citing AFP later reported that 31 people were killed in the attack of a police compound in Kohat on Friday. Pakistan has threatened to strike Afghan militants for their attacks in the country, if they are identified and bleed within its borders.
The two sides have been uneasy with each other since February, when they had their worst fighting in years. The military, analysts and government representatives in Pakistan did not immediately comment on the protests, which occurred Monday, and Afghan officials vowed to retaliate.
The intensified strikes would make a peace effort between Pakistan and Afghanistan to curtail further spiraling violence much tougher.