The United Nations in Afghanistan on Thursday confirmed that it received credible reports that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Paktika province.

The UN statement said Tuesday’s airstrikes were a violation of international law and called for an investigation.

“International law obliges military forces to take necessary precautions to prevent civilian harm, including distinguishing between civilians and combatants in operations,” the UN statement added.

The UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) said that at least 20 children were killed in the attack.

“Children are not and must never be a target,” UNICEF South Asia Director Sanjay Wijesekera said on X.

Afghan authorities reported that at least 46 civilians were killed in the airstrikes. The victims were said to be refugees from the Waziristan region in Pakistan.

Afghanistan had summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in Kabul to protest the attack.

The Pakistani diplomat was handed a “serious protest note” informing Pakistan that the protection of Afghanistan’s territory is “a red line” and that such “irresponsible actions” will have consequences, the Afghan foreign ministry said.

Pakistan claims that the airstrikes targeted suspected Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant hideouts.

The TTP is a militant group that has been responsible for numerous attacks in Pakistan.

Islamabad claims that the TTP is hiding on Afghan soil, a claim that Kabul denies.

(dpa/NAN)