At least 17 civilians were reportedly killed after the Pakistani Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes across eastern and southeastern Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials and local media reports. The strikes come amid sharply escalating tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy.
The air operations reportedly targeted areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, including Ghani Khel, Behsud, Khogyani, Barmal and Urgun districts. Afghan authorities alleged that residential areas were hit and that a religious seminary (madrassa) was among the targets. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strikes, claiming that women and children were among those killed and injured, and accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty.
Pakistani officials confirmed the airstrikes, stating that they were aimed at militant camps and hideouts belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its affiliates and Islamic State Khorasan elements operating along the border. Pakistan’s Information Minister said the action was “intelligence-based selective targeting” carried out in response to recent suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu, which Islamabad attributes to militants allegedly operating from Afghan territory.
The incident has further strained already fragile Pakistan–Afghanistan relations. While Pakistan maintains that it has repeatedly urged Afghan authorities to prevent the use of their soil for cross-border attacks, Kabul has rejected these allegations and warned of consequences. The reported use of F-16 and JF-17 fighter aircraft underscores the seriousness of the escalation, raising regional and international concern over civilian safety and stability along the volatile border.
