Eight schoolchildren among those killed in Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan

The Ministry of Education reported the tragic losses, highlighting the impact of strikes on civilians and students in the region.

Education Ministry spokesman Mansoor Ahmad Hamza also said that a student at a religious seminary was injured in Barmal district of Paktika province, another area affected by the Pakistani military attacks over the weekend.

Dozens of civilians have reportedly been killed or injured in the airstrikes, which Afghan authorities say targeted residential homes and community areas in both Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.

Local sources describe scenes of devastation, with families searching through rubble and emergency personnel rushing to rescue trapped individuals.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defense condemned the strikes, saying they constitute a violation of Afghan sovereignty and have caused significant civilian harm.

Officials reiterated that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks against other countries and called for restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.

The strikes come amid ongoing tensions along the disputed Durand Line between  Afghanistan and Pakistan, where security concerns and accusations of militancy have frequently strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad. Analysts note that repeated civilian casualties risk further inflaming regional tensions and complicating diplomatic efforts to reduce violence along the frontier.