Islamabad/Kabul: Pakistan has carried out targeted airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Pak-Afghan bordering areas on Saturday evening and reports from targeted areas suggested that Afghan authorities have restricted media and civilian access to the affected areas.
According to The South Asia Times, the Afghan Taliban administration-imposed limitations on journalists and residents seeking to visit sites hit by the Pakistani strikes. The publication reported that state-run Afghan media aired footage showing damage at a single location in Behsud district, while information about other reportedly affected areas was not released.
Residents of Paktika, Khost, and Nangarhar provinces told online news that Taliban security forces cordoned off several locations immediately following the airstrikes. Local sources claimed that terrorists had been residing in some of these areas alongside their families, for several years.
Journalists seeking access to Khogani in Nangarhar, as well as parts of Khost and other districts, were denied permission to visit the sites, the report said. The restrictions have raised questions about the extent of the damage and the number of casualties resulting from the strikes.
Security analysts cited by the publication said the denial of access to independent media has fueled concerns about transparency and accountability. They argue that limiting on-ground verification reinforces perceptions that Afghanistan continues to serve as a safe haven for multiple militant organizations operating in the region.
Separately, international assessments have expressed concern over Afghanistan’s role in regional and transnational security. According to The Diplomat, militant groups operating from Afghan territory retain the capability to conduct cross-border attacks, posing threats beyond neighboring countries.
The magazine reported that more than 6,000 fighters linked to terrorist networks are believed to be present in Afghanistan, with the capacity to project violence regionally. It also noted that militant violence in Pakistan increased significantly last year, with hundreds of attacks attributed to groups allegedly operating from across the border.
Security experts quoted in international media have cautioned against premature diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government, arguing that such a move could undermine counterterrorism efforts. They have called for verifiable and concrete steps by Afghan authorities to dismantle militant infrastructure.
Until effective measures are taken, analysts maintain that international pressure and sanctions should remain in place to address ongoing security concerns linked to militant activity originating from Afghan soil.
