Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes escalate

Local media in Afghanistan are reporting fresh clashes broke out Tuesday afternoon between Afghan and Pakistani forces in the border areas of eastern Nangarhar Province. Fighting is still ongoing, with sources confirming both sides are using heavy weapons and there have already been casualties.

The fighting comes just days after Pakistani airstrikes that killed at least 17 people inside Afghanistan around midnight on Saturday.

Early Sunday morning, Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the strikes that Pakistan carried out was intelligence-based, targeting seven militant camps along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The Pakistani side said the strikes targeted hideouts belonging to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and IS-KP, in response to recent attacks inside Pakistan.

Some residential buildings in Gardi Kas Village in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province have been completely destroyed by the airstrikes, and there are still people underneath the debris. The search operations are still underway.

Local farmer Nazakat said he lost family members in the strike.

"We were all asleep when it happened. I survived by a very small margin. If that corner of the house had collapsed, I would have been buried under the debris as well. I was trapped beneath a chair and lighter objects, but the rest of my family members were caught under heavy debris," he said.

"There are still small children trapped under the debris. Many people have come to help, and while some bodies have been recovered, others remain buried," said Ghofranullah, a relative of the victim family.

Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Hayatullah Muhajir Farahi condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of the country’s sovereignty. He urged both sides to resolve tensions through dialogue.

"We have consistently sought to resolve issues through dialogue, but unfortunately similar incidents continue to occur. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will not remain silent in response to such actions and will address them at an appropriate time and in a measured manner," he said.

Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes escalate

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday chaired a State Council executive meeting, during which arrangements were made for government work following the Spring Festival holiday and a series of draft policy documents were reviewed.

This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), and all departments under the State Council must remain focused on annual goals and tasks, and ensure that the government's arrangements are fully in place, the meeting said.

It said that efforts should be made to support local authorities and enterprises in fostering new growth drivers, and to introduce more targeted policy measures to invigorate market vitality continuously and enhance the people's well-being.

It also highlighted the need to develop the silver economy and strengthen elderly care services. To unleash the consumption potential of senior citizens further, it urged efforts to foster tailored consumption scenarios and business models.

The meeting called for quality improvements and the expanded coverage of elderly care services to ensure the country's senior citizens are cared for well.

It reviewed and adopted a guideline on strengthening firefighting work in local communities, and stressed the need for improved fire safety systems at the community level, as well as strengthened public preparedness for emergencies.

A draft revision of law on water was also discussed and approved in principle, and the decision to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation was made.

Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting