Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of six paramilitary personnel in a militant attack near the northwestern city of Peshawar, as Afghanistan accused Islamabad of carrying out fresh airstrikes across the border. This marks the latest sign of worsening tensions between the neighboring countries.
Attack Details
The attack, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group, occurred in Hassan Khel on the outskirts of Peshawar near the border with Afghanistan. Media reports indicated that dozens of militants assaulted a checkpoint on Monday using firearms, hand grenades, and mortar shells, resulting in the deaths of six members of the Federal Constabulary, a national paramilitary force that supports security operations in Pakistan's northwestern regions. Officials stated that eight other personnel were abducted during the assault.
In a report by state broadcaster Radio Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow and grief over the six deaths and paid tribute to the personnel.
Strained Relations
The attack comes amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan over a surge in militant violence. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Kabul denies.
On Wednesday, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of conducting new strikes in the eastern Afghan provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Paktika. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X: "Last night, the Pakistani military once again violated Afghanistan's airspace and bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika. As a result of these attacks, 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed." Pakistan's military and government did not immediately comment on these allegations.
Escalating Security Crisis
The reported strikes are the deadliest in weeks and occur against the backdrop of a months-long security crisis between the two countries. Relations deteriorated sharply in October last year after Pakistani strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan triggered deadly cross-border clashes and the closure of key border crossings. Pakistan maintains that its actions target militants who launch attacks from Afghan territory and argues that Kabul has failed to curb the activities of the Pakistani Taliban. Afghan authorities reject these accusations and accuse Islamabad of violating Afghanistan's sovereignty.
A ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October helped halt the fighting, but follow-up talks failed to produce a lasting agreement. Tensions resurfaced in February when both sides exchanged fresh strikes and accused each other of supporting hostile armed groups. According to a United Nations report published last month, at least 372 Afghan civilians were killed and 397 wounded during the first three months of this year's conflict.
