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People demonstrate in Khost after alleged Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan
Photo:
- / AFP
The Taliban government has summoned the Pakistani ambassador over airstrikes in Afghanistan.
This was announced by the Foreign Ministry in Kabul.
Representatives of the Taliban had previously reported that Pakistan had bombed four villages in the province of Khost in the east of the country on Saturday night from the air.
Dozens of people died, including children.
There are also many injuries.
In the Afghan border province of Kunar, the Taliban also reported that five civilians had been killed in attacks during the night.
Pakistani forces had been shelling several districts with heavy artillery for days, said the provincial head of the information and culture ministry, Najibullah Hanif, the German Press Agency.
The statements could not initially be verified independently.
According to statements by the Taliban and local residents, the Reuters news agency reported at least 36 deaths, and the German Press Agency reported 45 people killed.
Unsafe border area
Pakistan denied the allegations.
Instead, the government in Islamabad accuses the neighboring country of infiltrating militants across the border into Pakistan and carrying out attacks.
After taking power in Afghanistan in August, the Taliban pledged not to give shelter to extremist groups.
However, the 2,600-kilometer-long border area with Pakistan has long been a retreat for militant groups.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) movement is active in Pakistan.
In December, the Pakistani Taliban canceled a ceasefire with the government.
Since then there have been several attacks on soldiers and police officers in the country.
atb/Reuters/dpa/AFP