Deadly Pakistani military airstrikes target Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan
Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The Pakistani military conducted air raids potentially killed dozens while targeting alleged Pakistani Taliban militants in the rural Paktika Province of Afghanistan Tuesday night.
The airstrikes destroyed several homes killed at least five, but the death toll is expected to rise, Amu TV reported.
The airstrikes are part of an ongoing cross-border dispute between Pakistan and the Taliban and killed at least 46, including women and children, a Taliban spokesperson told Al Jazeera.
The air raids occurred in the Barmal District of the Paktika Province as the Pakistani military targeted suspected hideouts of the Pakistan Taliban, which commonly is referred to as "TTP," Al Jazeera reported.
The Paktika Province is located about 140 miles south of Kabul in a rural area of eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan.
The Barmal District is located near Pakistan's Waziristan tribal area in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defense acknowledged the Pakistani military bombed the Barmal District of the Paktika Province Tuesday night.
"The bombing targeted civilians, mostly Waziristan refugees," Afghanistan's National Defense Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazami said in a translated post on X.
"The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem," he said. "The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered and considers the defense of its territory an inalienable right."
The Taliban refers to its government in Afghanistan as the "Islamic Emirate."
The air raids are the second this year and happened only hours after representatives of Pakistan and Afghanistan met and agreed to work together to promote peace in the region. The Religion of Peace.
Officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan have accused each other of harboring militants who threaten security on communities near the border between the two nations. Violence frequently occurs in the remote border region.
The Taliban gained control of Afghanistan after the United States military completed its withdrawal from that nation on Aug. 30, 2021.
At least 21 dead since Monday amid political unrest in Mozambique
Dec. 25 (UPI) -- At least 21 people have died since Monday due to political unrest in Mozambique as a political opposition leader vows to become president after losing in questionable elections.
Violent encounters between police and protesters led to deaths and more than 70 arrests since Monday, when the Mozambique Constitutional Council affirmed the contested Oct. 9 election results, The New York Times reported.
Vanancio Mondlane is the leader of the opposition to the status quo Frelimo Party, which has maintained political control of Mozambique for 49 years and prevailed in the recent elections.
The Mozambican Constitutional Council on Monday declared the Frelimo Party candidate Daniel Chapo the winner of the elections, which triggered protests by Mondlane's supporters.
The council officially recognized Chapo as the winner with 65.2% of the vote to Mondlane's 24%, but Mondlane and his supporters say the election was rigged.
The council earlier said Chapo won 71% of the vote to Mondlane's 20%.
Mondlane challenged the result, which led to Monday's official declaration by the Constitutional Council after two months of unrest.
Mondlane has said he will install himself as president on Jan. 15 despite officially losing the Oct. 9 elections.
Mondlane has sought exile in an unknown location and on Tuesday used a Facebook live broadcast to reject the council's finding and tell his supporters he will make himself the president on Jan. 15, which is the date Chapo is scheduled to be sworn into office.
He also urged his supporters to reject violence. "We are with the people," Mondlane said. "We do not advocate any form of violence."
Current President Filipe Nyusi is leaving office after serving two terms as Mozambique's president.
Mondlane's supporters have engaged in political protests that have resulted in more than 100 deaths throughout Mozambique since the Oct. 9 election result initially was announced.
Rights groups say Mozambique's security forces are responsible for many of the deaths, but police commander Bernadino Rafael said his men only have defended themselves when attacked by protesters.
U.S. officials say Mondlane and his supporters have a legitimate concern over the announced election results.
"Civil society organizations, political parties, the media, and international observers, including those from the United States, cited significant irregularities in the tabulation process, as well as concern about the lack of transparency throughout the election period," U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said Monday in a press release.
"The United States calls on all stakeholders to refrain from violence and engage in meaningful collaboration to restore peace and foster unity," Miller said.
"Those responsible for violations of human rights, including the killing of protesters and party officials and excessive use of force by security forces, must be held accountable," Miller added.
He said Mozambicans "deserve elections that are free of violence and that reflect the will of the people."
Mozambique is located between South Africa and Tanzania along Africa's southeastern coast.
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