Taliban says Pakistan ‘killed 50 refugees’ fleeing airstrikes in Afghanistan

Airstrikes by the Pakistani military have killed up to 50 refugees, mostly women and children, the Taliban claims.

The ‘unarmed refugees’ were killed in eastern Afghanistan after fleeing there from a Pakistani offensive in the north-west, according to officials.

A spokesperson for the Afghan government put the death toll at 46, of whom 27 were women and children.

The Pakistani Taliban, a separate but allied group, said the death toll was 50, including 27 women and children.

It has shared photos which it claims show children killed in the Pakistani military’s offensive.

Pakistani security officials say the offensive, launched on Tuesday, is aimed at neutralising militants who have been launching attacks in Pakistan.

They say soldiers are attempting to dismantle a training facility in the Afghan province of Paktika.

Pakistani diplomats are currently in the Afghan capital of Kabul after the Afghan government lodged a strong protest over the strikes.

The Afghan Taliban has threatened ‘consequences’ for what it claims is a ‘violation of the country’s territory’.

Pakistan has not commented on the allegations of killing civilians, but claims its soldiers killed 13 insurgents along the border of Paktika.

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