Islamabad: The United Nations in Afghanistan confirmed on Thursday that it has received credible reports that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Paktika province this week.
The UN statement said Tuesday’s airstrikes were a violation of international law and called for an investigation.
"International law obliges military forces to take necessary precautions to prevent civilian harm, including distinguishing between civilians and combatants in operations,” the UN statement added.
The UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) said that at least 20 children were killed in the attack.
"Children are not and must never be a target,” UNICEF South Asia Director Sanjay Wijesekera said on X.
Afghan authorities reported that at least 46 civilians were killed in the airstrikes. The victims were said to be refugees from the Waziristan region in Pakistan. (DPA)