Russia on Saturday expressed concern over the ongoing military confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, highlighting its impact on civilians.
The Russian Embassy in Kabul stated that Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces reportedly killed civilians, including children.
The Russian Mission further said the situation was concerning and called attention to the civilian toll from the latest strikes.
“We are seriously concerned about the ongoing military confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which affects civilians, including children,” the embassy said in a post on X.
“Another episode was recent airstrikes on Afghanistan’s provinces of Helmand and Kunar overnight on October 1, which caused a number of people killed, including children, and injured,” it added.
Russia’s reaction comes after Pakistan carried out overnight strikes in the two Afghan provinces on October 1. Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said the attacks hit residential areas and killed nine people, including women and children, while 11 others were injured.
Pakistan, however, said its forces had targeted militant camps and hideouts and claimed that 22 militants were killed. The competing claims have not been independently verified.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) separately confirmed that at least 10 civilians, most of them children, were killed and nine others injured in the strikes. The UN agency called for de-escalation, dialogue and measures to prevent further civilian harm.
The latest escalation follows growing tensions between the neighbours over cross-border militancy. Islamabad has accused the Taliban government of allowing groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory, a charge Kabul denies. Pakistan has increasingly responded with strikes inside Afghanistan, while Afghan authorities have condemned them as violations of their sovereignty.