The Taliban-cross-border air strikes killed 36 Afghan civilians and injured 163 others across Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces. While Islamabad scrambled to justify the aggression as a retaliatory anti-terror operation, the unilateral assault has thoroughly shattered recent China-mediated bilateral peace understandings.

KABUL/ISLAMABAD -- Afghan government officials said on Monday that Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 36 people and injured 163 others.

At least 36 civilians have been killed and more than 160 others injured in Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, officials said. Pakistani forces launched a military operation…