On Friday night, the Pakistani air strikes targeted civilians in Esperai district in Khost, killing dozens of people.Strong reactions continue at national level against Pakistani military’s air strikes and rocket attacks on Afghan provinces with many blaming Pakistan for violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
On Friday night, the Pakistani air strikes targeted civilians in Esperai district in Khost, killing dozens of people.
A large number Nangarhar residents gathered in Ghanikhil district in the provinces on Sunday to protest the Pakistani air strikes on Afghan soil.
The protest in Nangarhar follows a big rally held by the residents of Khost on Saturday evening where they chanted anti-Pakistan slogans.
Some residents of Shiltan district in Kunar also confirmed the death of five people as a result of Pakistani military attack in the district.
The attacks were condemned by the Islamic Emirate and top Afghan politicians, including former president Hamid Karzai who called it violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and international norms and a crime against humanity.
The Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the UN in a statement “strongly” condemned the attack and called it an “aggression against the territorial integrity of Afghanistan” and a “flagrant breach of international law.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday summoned the Pakistani envoy in Kabul over the attacks in Khost and Kunar provinces.
“Along with the IEA Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the session also included Deputy Defense Minister Alhaj Mullah Shirin Akhund where the Afghan sidecondemned the recent attacks,” the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, referring to the air strikes, Pakistan Foreign Affairs Ministry said that "the incidents" happened after "significant increase in attacks by elements of banned terrorist groups" on Pakistani forces from Afghan soil. The ministry added that Pakistan respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations said that over 40 people, including women and children, were killed in the air strikes.
Social Media photos of the victims show that many of those killed were kids and women.