Afghanistan carries out airstrikes on ISIS-linked targets in Pakistan

The Ministry of Defence of Afghanistan on Wednesday, July 1, claimed that its security forces carried out airstrikes against alleged ISIS-linked targets in Pakistan.

The attacks were carried out on Tuesday night, read a statement from the Afghan ministry. It added that they targetted “ISIS facilities” in the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, IANS reported.

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“The air forces of the Afghan Ministry of Defence tonight conducted airstrikes on an ISIS joint centre and elements of evil and corruption in the Saranan area of the Pishin district, Balochistan province. This centre was used for carrying out sabotage activities and planning attacks in Afghanistan, and it served as a coordination hub for bombings in which Afghan civilians were targeted,” read the statement.

“In the Qambar Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, successful airstrikes were carried out by the Afghan Air Force on a Daesh centre, and in the Garam Chashma area of the Shah Salim Valley in Chitral, on another joint Daesh centre and elements of evil and corruption. Destructive activities and attacks against civilians were also being planned from these centres,” it added.

As per preliminary information, the strikes inflicted heavy casualties and significant financial losses on ISIS and its supporters. Further, the Afghan ministry claimed that the attacks were carried out with high precision against designated targets and caused no civilian casualties.

“Afghan air defence forces will target any location used to disrupt Afghanistan’s security,” it stated.

This comes days after 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed, and 163 others were left severely injured in Pakistani military airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces.