DUBAI, December 25. /TASS/. A total of 46 people were killed in Paktika province, located in eastern Afghanistan near the Afghan-Pakistani border, following a strike by the Pakistan Air Force, Zabihullah Mujahid, the official spokesman for the Afghan government formed by the radical Taliban movement (banned in Russia), said in a statement.

"Yesterday morning (on Tuesday), the Pakistanis carried out strikes on the Barmal district in Paktika province. The total number of casualties is 46 [people], most of whom are women and children," he told the French AFP news agency. Mujahid added that six people had sustained injuries.

On December 24, the Taliban-led Afghan Defense Ministry reported that Pakistani forces had carried out airstrikes in Paktika province. The ministry denounced the attack, describing it as a breach of international law and asserting that it failed to resolve any issue. The ministry further vowed to take retaliatory action.