Pakistani airstrikes hit three houses in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces on Thursday, killing nine people, the Afghan Taliban government said. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said those killed included women and children, and 11 people were injured. ‘We condemn this act as an aggression and crime in violation of all accepted principles,’ he said. Pakistan’s information ministry said the strikes were based on ‘credible intelligence’ and targeted militant hideouts at two locations. It said initial reports suggested 22 ‘terrorists’ were killed. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said at least 10 civilians were killed, most of them children, and nine others injured. Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims. The strikes mark an escalation after three months of relative calm between the neighbours. The two countries fought their worst battles in years in February, and both have traded accusations over cross-border militancy. Afghanistan’s defence ministry said on Sunday its forces had killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 after a group it said included Islamic State militants crossed from Pakistan. Islamabad had rejected the allegations.