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Pakistan Airstrikes on Afghanistan Kill 22 Fighters, Kabul Disputes — AI-generated representative image: A rugged mountainous border region with smoke rising in the distance, illustrating reported cross-border airstrikes between P

Editorial Team

Kabul says strikes on Kunar and Helmand killed women and children as Islamabad targets Tehrik-i-Taliban hideouts

Pakistan has launched air attacks on Afghanistan, saying it targeted camps and hideouts used by armed groups in two locations and killed an estimated 22 fighters. The announcement by Pakistan's Ministry of Information came on Thursday.

Kabul, however, accused Islamabad of killing at least nine women and children in the strikes, which it said hit northeastern Kunar and southern Helmand provinces late on Wednesday. Voice of Urdu could not independently verify the casualty claims from either side.

The competing accounts reflect a deepening rift between the neighbouring countries, whose border regions have seen recurring cross-border violence. The strikes mark a significant escalation after roughly three months of relative calm.

At the centre of the dispute is Islamabad's long-standing accusation that Kabul harbours armed groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which stage attacks on Pakistani territory. Afghanistan denies the charge.

Conflicting Casualty Reports

Pakistan's Ministry of Information said the air attacks targeted camps and hideouts used by armed groups in two locations, killing an estimated 22 fighters. The ministry did not specify which groups were struck or provide further operational details.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for Afghanistan's government, said the strikes took place late on Wednesday and that at least nine people were killed and 11 others wounded. He said the attacks on Kunar and Helmand destroyed three houses.

Voice of Urdu could not independently verify the casualty figures presented by either government.

Background of Cross-Border Tensions

The alleged attacks come amid an escalation in fighting between the two countries after three months of relative calm. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan's government of harbouring armed groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which Islamabad says stage cross-border attacks on its territory.

Kabul has consistently denied the charge and instead says Pakistani attacks have targeted civilian homes, killing and wounding women and children. The border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan has long been a flashpoint for militant activity and military operations.

Official Statements

In a post on X, Mujahid condemned the strikes in strong terms. "We condemn this act and consider it an aggression and crime against all accepted principles," he wrote.

The Afghan spokesman's account described the attacks as having struck civilian areas, destroying three houses across the two provinces. Pakistan, by contrast, framed the operation as a targeted action against armed groups operating from within Afghan territory.

What Happens Next

Neither government has announced further military action or diplomatic steps following the strikes. The conflicting casualty figures remain unverified, and no independent confirmation of the events on the ground has been made available.

The situation remains tense, with the possibility of further escalation along the border if the dispute over responsibility and civilian harm continues unresolved.