Afghanistan says six civilians killed in Pakistan strikes

Islamabad last month launched a military operation against its neighbour, targeting Islamist extremists following growing attacks in Pakistan.

The Taliban government has denied any involvement or the use of Afghan territory for militancy.

The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran both said four people were killed in airstrikes in the capital, with women and children among the victims.

Zadran's counterpart in the eastern province of Nangahar, Sayed Tayeed Hammad, told AFP that a woman and child were killed when a Pakistan mortar shell hit a house.

An AFP team in the Pul-e-Charkhi area of Kabul saw one destroyed house and around a dozen others that were badly damaged, with collapsed roofs and walls.

There was a sizeable police presence in the area, and visibly shocked local residents were in the streets, including some with bandaged faces.

"Two men and two women were martyred," Abdul Rahim Tarakil, a local representative, told AFP. 

"There aren't any military posts here... There are only ordinary people, poor people. They don't have any involvement in politics."

Abdul Wahid, a 29-year-old labourer, said he and four family members were wounded when his house was hit at about 12:10 am (1940 GMT Thursday).

"Suddenly, a noise came from another house. I don't know what happened afterwards. All these bricks fell on me. Women and children were under the rubble as well," he added.

"I was there for 10 minutes as if it was my last breath. Then my neighbours came and removed the bricks... and took us to the clinic."

- Border clashes -

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that Pakistan strikes also hit the southern province of Kandahar, as well as eastern Paktia and Paktika, which border Pakistan. 

In Kandahar, which is home to the administration's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, air strikes hit a fuel depot for airline Kam Air, near the airport.

An airport official, Shafiullah Riyaz, told AFP the depot also supplied fuel for aid agencies such as the UN and ICRC.

"There aren't any military installations here," he said. "It's a significant loss for our civil and UN flights."

In Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan, a local army spokesman said anti-aircraft defences responded to Pakistani aircraft that flew overhead.

Residents reported firing from both sides near the Torkham border crossing, an AFP correspondent said, while a senior police officer in Kohat, northwest Pakistan, said "explosive material" was dropped from "terrorist drones", wounding three.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday that the border attacks "significantly damaged" its transit centre in Torkham for Afghans deported en masse from Pakistan.

Pakistan insists it has not killed any civilians in the conflict. Casualty claims from both sides are difficult to verify independently.

There have been repeated clashes at the border in recent weeks, hampering trade and forcing nearby residents to leave their homes. 

UNAMA said on Friday that at least 75 civilians have been killed and 193 injured in Afghanistan as a result of the clashes since February 26.

"We continue to call for an immediate cessation in hostilities to prevent further loss of civilian life," a statement read.

About 115,000 people were forced to leave their homes, according to the UN refugee agency.

Dozens of people were killed in fighting between the two countries in October last year, which led to the near-total closure of the border.

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