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Pakistan-Afghanistan airstrikes
Overnight on Nov. 25, Afghan officials and Taliban spokesmen said Pakistani airstrikes struck a house in Gurbuz/Gerbaz (Mughulgai/Mughalgay) district of Khost province, killing 10 civilians — nine children (five boys and four girls) and one woman — and destroying the home of Waliat/Wilayat Khan, son of Qazi Mir.
“Afghan authorities say a Pakistani airstrike on a house in Gurbuz district of southeastern Khost province killed nine children (five boys and four girls) and one woman and destroyed the home. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted that the strike occurred at midnight (19:30 GMT) and identified the resident as Waliat Khan, son of Qazi Mir.”
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted the allegation on X and said other strikes in Kunar and Paktika wounded four more civilians.
Pakistani authorities had no immediate comment, and the strikes risk inflaming an already fragile ceasefire between the neighbours.
Casualty report coverage
Multiple international and regional outlets quoted Mujahid's post on X as the primary source for casualty figures and locations.
They consistently mentioned nine children and one woman among the dead, plus additional wounded in Kunar and Paktika.
Several reports identified the strike time as around midnight and specified the victim's home.
Other reports simply repeated the casualty totals without further local detail.
Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions
Several reports placed the strikes in a wider context of sharply rising Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
“The strikes came hours after a separate attack in Pakistan: gunmen and suicide bombers stormed the Frontier Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar’s Saddar area, killing three security personnel as forces sealed roads and searched for further attackers.”
The bombardment came hours after a suicide and gun attack on the Frontier Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar that killed three officers.
It also followed recent suicide blasts in Islamabad and earlier cross-border incidents that had already prompted a fragile ceasefire brokered in October.
Outlets noted Islamabad's repeated accusations that militants such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan soil and Kabul's denials.
Coverage tone and attribution
Coverage differed in tone and attribution.
Many outlets explicitly attributed the casualty claims to the Taliban government or to Mujahid's post on X.
Some regional reports used stronger language, quoting the Taliban's condemnation, for example calling Pakistani forces 'invasion forces', and warned of consequences.
Others remained more neutral, noting only the allegation and the lack of Pakistani comment.
Strikes threaten fragile truce
Observers and several outlets warned the strikes risk undermining a fragile truce and could trigger further escalation along the porous border.
“Pakistan had no immediate comment; the incident risks reigniting hostilities amid a fragile, strained ceasefire between the two countries.”
Some reports also referenced recent diplomatic contacts and military operations to show the broader diplomatic and security stakes.
However, reporting is based primarily on Taliban statements and wire-service citations (AFP/AP), and there is no independent verification in these accounts.
Important facts - motive, Pakistani official confirmation, and independent casualty verification - remain unconfirmed or disputed.