Pakistani airstrikes kill at least 13 in Afghanistan, Taliban says

At least 13 people have been killed after Pakistan's military launched air strikes in three Afghan provinces, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Wednesday, in a renewal of a conflict that has killed hundreds this year.

At least 14 others were injured in Islamabad's strikes that violated Afghanistan's airspace and bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika, the Afghan spokesperson added.

There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani military or government, but security officials told Reuters that Islamabad has carried out air strikes in what they called "hideouts and other facilities of the Pakistani fighters using them against Pakistan".

Islamabad has blamed Kabul for ​harbouring fighters that it says plot attacks in Pakistan. ‌The ⁠Taliban has denied the allegations and said rebels in Pakistan are an internal problem.

The renewed violence threatens to disturb a long lull in fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, ​allies-turned-foes who fought their worst battle in years in February.

The two countries agreed to a fragile ceasefire in March, with China trying to mediate a settlement to the conflict.