After Peshawar Suicide Blast, Pakistan Carries Out Major Airstrike in Afghanistan: 9 Children Among 10 Killed

Kabul/Islamabad:
A massive Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan has sparked global outrage after reports confirmed the death of nine innocent children and one woman. The attack took place late Monday night in the Gurbuji area of Mughalghai in Khost province. Taliban authorities have strongly condemned the strike, calling it “a barbaric violation of Afghan sovereignty.”

The airstrike came barely 24 hours after a deadly suicide attack on the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary (FC) in Peshawar, which killed several Pakistani soldiers. The timing has led many to believe that Pakistan’s operation was intended as retaliation. The central question now is: Can a nation justify revenge by dropping bombs on civilian homes?

Taliban Confirms Civilian Killings

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistani forces targeted a civilian house:

“Nine children (five boys and four girls) and one woman were martyred when Pakistani forces bombed a civilian home in southeastern Khost,”
he said, adding that the strike was an “unacceptable and brutal breach of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.”

Additional airstrikes were reported in Kunar and Paktika provinces, leaving four more civilians injured.

So far, Islamabad has not issued an official statement. However, security sources in Pakistan insist the operation targeted hideouts of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), based on “credible intelligence.”

Peshawar Attack Triggers Escalation

Hours before the Khost airstrike, a suicide bomber struck the FC headquarters in Peshawar, killing three personnel and injuring at least five. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, praising the security forces for their “swift response.”

State broadcaster PTV claimed the attackers were Afghan nationals, strengthening Pakistan’s long-standing allegation that the Afghan Taliban shelters TTP militants across the Durand Line—a 2,640 km boundary disputed since British rule.

No group has claimed responsibility for the Peshawar bombing, but officials say the method closely resembles past TTP attacks.

Rising Terror and Cross-Border Tensions

The latest incidents highlight the deteriorating security situation along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. In the last two weeks alone, Pakistan has witnessed two major suicide attacks. On November 11, a bomber killed 12 people outside a court in Islamabad.

This year, over 685 Pakistani security personnel have been killed in various attacks—the highest toll since 2014.

Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of allowing TTP fighters to operate freely. The Taliban government denies the claims, instead accusing Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and killing innocent people.

A Dangerous Cycle of Retaliation

As both nations continue to trade blame, analysts warn that indiscriminate airstrikes and suicide bombings will only worsen regional instability.

The tragedy in Khost—where nine children lost their lives—raises a critical moral question:
In the name of fighting terrorism, can any nation justify the killing of its neighbor’s children?