• At least 10 people, including nine children, killed in alleged Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Khost province.
• The Taliban has vowed to respond to the strikes, which they term a violation of sovereignty.
• Pakistan denies involvement, calling the allegations baseless amid growing tensions.

According to reports from multiple sources, the Afghan Taliban claimed that Pakistani forces conducted airstrikes in Khost province, resulting in the deaths of at least ten individuals, including nine children—five boys and four girls—and one woman. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the strikes specifically targeted a civilian home in the Gorbuz district during the night, and further airstrikes occurred in Kunar and Paktika, injuring four more civilians, as reported by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and India Times.

The Taliban administration condemned the airstrikes as a severe violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty and vowed to respond at an appropriate time. Mujahid emphasized that the government would defend its territory and people, stating that "the Islamic Emirate strongly condemns this violation" on social media, as noted in India Times, AA, and CBS News.

On the other hand, Pakistani military officials have firmly rejected the Taliban's claims. According to military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the allegations are "baseless," asserting that when Pakistan conducts military action, it does so openly and only targets terrorists, not Afghan civilians. He emphasized that no negotiations with Kabul are possible until the Taliban take genuine action against militants, as reported by AA and CBS News.

The strikes and ensuing tensions come at a sensitive time as relations remain strained between Afghanistan and Pakistan following a series of violent incidents, including a recent suicide bombing in Peshawar. Pakistani authorities attributed this violence to militants allegedly operating from Afghan soil, reiterating long-standing accusations that have fueled discord between the neighboring nations, according to AA and CBS News.