Pakistan launches deadly air strikes in Afghanistan, reigniting tensions

Pakistan has launched deadly air strikes along its border with Afghanistan, breaking months of relative calm in the restive region.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said 26 militants had been killed in "calibrated strikes" on four targets. Afghanistan's Taliban government said 13 people, mostly children, were killed in Pakistani strikes in three provinces.

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of harbouring terrorists who carry out attacks on its soil, a claim the Taliban government rejects.

In February, clashes between the two countries left dozens of people dead. In March a Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul killed hundreds.

The two countries had agreed a ceasefire last October following weeks of deadly clashes.

Tarar said Wednesday's strikes had been a response to "recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan" and had targeted "hideouts and safe havens" near the border, including a training centre and an ammunition cache.

The bombardment came a day after an attack on security forces near Peshawar, in which the Pakistani government said at least six officers were killed.

"Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority," Tarar said.

Earlier Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that 11 children, one woman and one elderly man had been killed in Pakistani strikes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika.

He also said that 14 women and children were injured in the Pakistani bombing.

Afghanistan has repeatedly said its territory is not being used to threaten other countries.

The clashes in late February involved an offensive by Afghanistan's Taliban government on Pakistani military bases near the border.

Pakistan responded by bombing targets in Kabul, and the provinces of Kandahar and Paktika - Afghan provinces close to its 2,600km (1,615-mile) border.

On 16 March, a Pakistani air strike hit the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul, killing at least 269 people, according to a UN report.

It was the deadliest single attack in Afghanistan's recent history, including 20 years of war between the Taliban, and Nato and Afghan republic forces.