Afghanistan Says Pakistani Strikes in Helmand and Kunar Kill Nine

The Pakistani military carried out rare airstrikes in Afghanistan's Helmand province on Thursday, killing several civilians, according to the Taliban government.

Islamabad confirmed that it had conducted "planned and calibrated" strikes inside Afghanistan, but did not disclose the locations. Pakistan said the operations targeted militants.

Afghan officials also reported an airstrike in eastern Kunar province, marking the latest deadly incident along the border between the two countries.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said nine Afghan civilians, including women and children, were killed in the strikes in Helmand and Kunar. He said another 11 people were wounded and three homes were destroyed.

Pakistan's information ministry said its forces had, based on what it described as credible intelligence, carried out "selective targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts at two locations" in Afghanistan.

Helmand's provincial government said the strike hit Safar village, killing four people and leaving several others critically injured.

Afghanistan and Pakistan were involved in a war earlier this year, and sporadic clashes have continued despite a truce reached in March. The ceasefire has yet to produce a permanent resolution to the two countries' longstanding security disputes.