By Micah Jonah, February 22, 2026
Pakistan has launched air strikes on targets in eastern Afghanistan, killing civilians, escalating tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Islamabad said the strikes targeted armed groups it blames for recent suicide bombings, including attacks carried out during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Pakistani authorities accused fighters operating from Afghan territory of staging the assaults.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, however, said dozens of innocent civilians, including women and children were killed, wounded when the strikes hit a school and residential homes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.
According to Nangarhar police, the bombardment began around midnight on Saturday, affected three districts. A police spokesperson said several civilians were killed, with multiple members of a single family among the casualties.
Kabul has repeatedly denied allowing armed groups use its territory to launch attacks on Pakistan. The Afghan Defence Ministry said it would deliver an appropriate and calculated response to the strikes.
The latest exchange underscores the worsening dispute between the two countries since Taliban authorities regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. Previous Pakistani military actions between October and December reportedly killed dozens of Afghan civilians, according to the United Nations mission in Afghanistan.
Efforts at mediation, including a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye, have failed to produce a lasting agreement. Saudi Arabia recently intervened to secure the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured in October.
The deteriorating relationship has disrupted cross border movement, with the land border largely closed for months, affecting residents and trade on both sides.
