Islamic Emirate deputy spokesman reports 4 civilians killed in Pakistani attacks on Afghan border provinces

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, stated that Pakistani forces conducted mortar and artillery attacks on border areas in Nuristan, Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces over the past 24 hours, killing four civilians and wounding nine others, including women and children.

Fitrat said residential houses were targeted in districts including Alisher, Zazi Maidan and Garbaz in Khost, where women and children were among the casualties, as well as Nari district in Kunar, where shells caused a house to catch fire. In Paktika's Shakhin and Bermel districts, attacks on evacuated houses and facilities caused no casualties, according to Fitrat.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement expressed concern over rising civilian casualties, including women and children, from Pakistani airstrikes on residential areas in Afghanistan. The group called for an end to armed clashes between the two countries, noting the disproportionate impact on Pashtun communities on both sides of the border and criticizing decisions on attacks made without parliamentary review.

ToloNews reported that its findings showed at least 24 civilians, including women and children, killed in Pakistani attacks across provinces including Kabul, Nuristan, Khost, Paktia, Paktika, Kunar and Nangarhar over the past 10 days. The New York Times was cited as reporting 75 civilian deaths and 115,000 displacements from Pakistani airstrikes since February 26.

Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces have continued for 19 days along the border, with Pakistani officials not commenting on the latest claims. Pakistan's information minister has previously said such attacks target military objectives and centers supporting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.