Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated again after Pakistan reportedly carried out fresh airstrikes targeting multiple locations in Afghanistan, including Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, and Paktika. The Taliban administration has accused Pakistan of destroying civilian homes and killing women and children in the attacks.

According to Taliban officials, four members of the same family, including two children, were killed in artillery and mortar fire in the village of Sadqo in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province early Thursday morning. Authorities also said three other children were injured in the attack.

The Taliban government strongly condemned the strikes, calling them “cruel aggression” and warning that such actions would not go unanswered. The attacks reportedly occurred during the final ten days of Ramadan and just ahead of the Eid festival.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also alleged that Pakistani forces bombed a fuel depot belonging to private airline Kam Air near Kandahar airport. The company reportedly supplies fuel to civilian airlines as well as aircraft used by the United Nations.

The latest violence follows cross-border fighting that erupted last month after Pakistan conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan, claiming it was targeting militant hideouts. Kabul strongly rejected the justification, calling the strikes a violation of its sovereignty and launching retaliatory actions along the 2,600-kilometre border shared by the two countries.

Militancy continues to be a major source of conflict between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government of providing safe haven to militant groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. However, the Taliban denies these allegations and insists that militancy is an internal issue for Pakistan.

Afghan authorities say the latest clashes have now resulted in at least seven civilian deaths since Tuesday due to cross-border shelling and airstrikes.