Pakistani airstrikes killed dozens of people in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, with Islamabad saying it targeted militant positions while Taliban authorities reported heavy civilian casualties.
Pakistan’s Information Ministry said the operation was launched against Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), following a deadly attack on a paramilitary camp in Karachi over the weekend. The ministry said 25 militants were killed in airstrikes and four more died during ground operations near the border.
Taliban officials disputed Pakistan’s account, saying the strikes hit civilian areas in the eastern provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar. According to the Afghan government, at least 36 civilians were killed and 163 others were injured.
Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said one of the affected areas in Paktia province was struck for a second time while residents were carrying out rescue efforts.
The latest operation marks another escalation in tensions between the neighbouring countries, whose relations have deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The strikes also follow weeks of conflict that erupted in February before both sides agreed to a ceasefire in March.
Despite the truce, cross-border violence has continued. Afghan officials said Pakistani strikes earlier this month killed 13 people, while Pakistan has maintained that its military operations target militant groups responsible for attacks inside the country.
Saturday’s assault on a Rangers paramilitary camp in Karachi left three security personnel dead after gunmen detonated explosives and opened fire. Pakistani authorities said they arrested an Afghan national in connection with the attack and accused militants operating from Afghan territory of carrying it out.
Afghan officials have repeatedly rejected claims that the country shelters armed groups targeting Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of causing civilian casualties through repeated military operations.
The border dispute has intensified since late 2025, with repeated clashes, airstrikes and border closures disrupting communities on both sides. International mediation efforts, including those involving China, have so far failed to secure a lasting resolution.
