Bajaur District, Pakistan — Afghan Taliban mortar fire struck a village in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, killing four civilians and injuring a five‑year‑old child, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said. The incident, he added, occurred around 3 p.m. local time as artillery and mortar rounds hit the civilian area from across the Afghanistan border, escalating recent cross‑border tensions.
Tarar said Pakistani forces were responding to the attack and blamed the Afghan Taliban regime for deliberately targeting civilians. “A befitting and aggressive response is being given to the Afghan Taliban regime positions and infrastructure responsible for this dastardly act,” he said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Civilian Casualties and Local Outrage After Afghan Taliban Mortar Fire
According to Tarar, the four victims — identified as brothers Sajid, Ayaz, Riaz, and Muaz — were killed when the mortar fire hit their home in Tabesta Letai village in the Salarzai area. A five‑year‑old child from the family was critically injured and evacuated for treatment.
Residents in the border district strongly condemned the attack and expressed anger over what they described as the “deliberate targeting of innocent civilians.” The information minister said local leaders had summoned provincial officials to demand security assurances and assistance for affected families.
“This cowardly and heinous deliberate targeting of civilians by the Afghan Taliban regime in cohorts with terrorist organisation Fitna‑al‑Khawarij is not only a grievous violation of international law and basic human values but also reflective of their deep frustration and desperation,” Tarar added.
Pakistan’s Military Strikes Continue After Border Clashes
The Afghan Taliban mortar fire incident comes amid escalating hostilities between Islamabad and Kabul’s Taliban‑led administration that have persisted since late February. Pakistan has launched military strikes, including air and ground operations targeting Taliban and allied militant positions in southern Afghan provinces such as Kandahar as part of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq.
Earlier on Sunday, Tarar said Pakistani forces destroyed a tunnel, equipment storage facilities, and technical infrastructure in overnight strikes in Kandahar and the Chitral sector, which officials say were used by the Afghan Taliban and allied militants.
Afghan authorities have condemned Pakistan’s air and artillery strikes, claiming civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. Kabul accuses Islamabad of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty, while Pakistan insists it is targeting terrorists who use Afghan soil as sanctuary for attacks inside Pakistan.
Longstanding Border Tensions and Previous Incidents
Cross‑border conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban‑ruled Afghan government is the deadliest in years, with both sides trading accusations of civilian harm and military provocations. A mortar shell from Afghanistan was reported to have struck a home in Bajaur earlier this week, killing additional civilians, according to local sources.
The clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan in late February that Islamabad said were aimed at Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant hideouts. Afghan officials, including the Taliban government, have countered that Pakistani strikes have hit civilian areas and infrastructure, fueling reciprocal actions.
Tensions have also seen the use of drones, with Pakistan reporting interception of Taliban‑launched unmanned aerial vehicles near Islamabad, with debris injuring civilians. Kabul, meanwhile, has denied harbouring militants and accused Pakistan of military aggression.
Humanitarian Concerns and Diplomatic Fallout
International rights groups and United Nations agencies have expressed concern about rising civilian casualties in the ongoing border clashes, urging restraint and a return to diplomatic channels. Recent fighting has displaced thousands of residents in frontier areas and disrupted cross‑border trade and movement.
Experts warn that without de‑escalation measures or renewed peace talks, such incidents of Afghan Taliban mortar fire and counter‑military operations could further strain relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with wider implications for regional security.
Outlook
As tensions continue along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, analysts say both governments face pressure to balance military action with diplomatic engagement to prevent further civilian harm. Islamabad has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding its citizens, while Kabul insists its defence actions are in response to Pakistani aggression. Continued international mediation efforts, including talks facilitated by neighbouring states, appear likely in the coming weeks.
