Afghanistan, Feb. 23 -- Pakistan's president defended recent airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, calling them a legitimate response to cross-border militancy amid rising tensions.
Asif Ali Zardari said the latest air raids on parts of Nangarhar and Paktika provinces reflect Pakistan's "right" to defend its people against cross-border terrorism.
Citing a recent report by the United Nations Security Council, Zardari warned that those responsible for bloodshed inside Pakistan "will not remain beyond reach."
The Taliban administration, however, described the strikes as an act of aggression and an attack on civilians, claiming more than 20 non-combatants, including women and children, were killed in Behsud district of Nangarhar.
Local residen...