Pakistan says retaliatory airstrikes in Afghanistan killed 25 militants

Pakistan carried out airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan overnight targeting militants in response to deadly attacks, the Pakistani information minister said on Monday.

“Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes,” information minister Attaullah Tarar said in a statement, referring to three eastern Afghanistan provinces and adding the strikes killed 25 militants.

He said the offensive also included ground operations in border regions and targeted Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a militant group often linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Tarar said Pakistan's overnight operations were in response to an attack that killed three paramilitary troops in the southern city of Karachi on Saturday, as well as recent violence in its border provinces.

Pakistan has carried out a series of airstrikes on Afghanistan in recent months, the last one earlier this month.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban government of sheltering militants behind a surge in attacks, particularly the TTP, which has waged a violent campaign against Pakistan for years.

Kabul has repeatedly denied Afghan territory is used to harbour militants and says past Pakistani airstrikes have killed civilians.

The border between the neighbours has remained largely closed since a flare-up in violence in October, freezing bilateral trade.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)