Afghanistan says Pakistani strikes kill civilians in Helmand

The Pakistani military launched rare strikes on Afghanistan's Helmand province on Thursday, the Taliban government said as it reported multiple civilians killed.

Islamabad confirmed "planned and calibrated" strikes in Afghanistan, without detailing locations, which it said targeted militants.

An airstrike also hit eastern Kunar province, Afghan officials said, in the latest deadly attack to hit the border region between the two countries.

"Nine Afghan civilians, including women and children, were killed" in the two provinces, Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X.

Eleven others were wounded, Mujahid said, and three homes were destroyed.

Pakistan's information ministry said "based on credible intelligence, selective targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts at two locations" were hit in Afghanistan, in a post on X.

Helmand's provincial government said the attack hit Safar village, killing four people and leaving others critically wounded.

Afghanistan and Pakistan went to war earlier this year and there have been sporadic attacks since a truce reached in March, as no permanent resolution to security issues was reached.