Kabul: At least 15 people were killed due to a series of airstrikes by Pakistan in the Barmal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan late at night on Tuesday (December 24) and the toll is expected to rise. The Pakistani air attacks targeted seven villages, including Laman, where five members of a family died, reported ANI citing Khaama Press.According to the report, the airstrikes have led to more civilian casualties and destruction further worsening the situation in the area. Khaama Press stated that recovery efforts were ongoing and a further probe is required to confirm details. The strike reportedly targeted suspected Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan.The report further mentioned that local sources claimed that Pakistani jets were responsible for the bombings. Multiple reports say that the Murg Bazaar village in Barmal was destroyed, which has now worsened the ongoing humanitarian crisis.The Taliban's Ministry of Defence condemned the bombings and said the same will not go unanswered. The Ministry said the "brutal bombings targeted civilians, mostly Waziristan refugees, including children"."A number of civilians were martyred and injured. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this barbaric act as an act of aggression against all international principles and strongly condemns it..." it added in an X post."The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary action is not a solution to any problem.The Islamic Emirate will not leave this heinous act unanswered; rather, it considers it its right to defend its territory and sovereignty," Afghanistan's Defence Ministry said.No official confirmation has yet been received from Pakistan. The attack may escalate the ongoing tensions between the two countries, which has been only declining over Islamabad's charges that Kabul is helping Pak militants in hiding. The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has increased its attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months. Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Defence, also denied the Pakistani claims in the X post.