Afghanistan reported on Wednesday that new Pakistani airstrikes targeted the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Paktika, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people and wounding 14 others. According to Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, the casualties included 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man. Pakistan has not immediately acknowledged or commented on these latest strikes.
Retaliatory Escalation and Border Clashes
The airstrikes occurred just a day after suspected Pakistani Taliban (TTP) militants attacked a security post in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. The intense gunbattle left six members of the Federal Constabulary dead and several others wounded. Local authorities confirmed that security forces successfully thwarted the attempt to overrun the checkpoint, killing eight of the attackers. Following the incident, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the fallen personnel and vowed to significantly intensify military operations against groups threatening national peace and security.
A History of Broken Peace Pledges
These recent clashes mark a severe continuation of a deadly, months-long conflict between the two neighboring nations. Pakistan formally declared open war on Afghanistan in February following a massive surge in militant attacks on its civilians and security forces, prompting immediate retaliatory cross-border strikes from Kabul. Tensions previously peaked in March when Afghanistan claimed a Pakistani airstrike hit a Kabul drug-treatment center, allegedly killing over 400 people—a massive casualty claim that Pakistan vehemently denied, insisting the target was a militant ammunition depot.
The ongoing violence severely undermines recent diplomatic efforts spearheaded by China. Earlier this year, Beijing hosted peace talks in Urumqi where both nations tentatively agreed to de-escalate the conflict and explore diplomatic solutions. However, the core of the dispute remains unresolved: Pakistan continues to accuse the ruling Afghan Taliban of harboring and enabling TTP militants who execute deadly attacks inside Pakistani territory, a charge that Kabul consistently denies.
Reference
Afghan, A. Q., & Ahmed, M. (2026, 10 junio). Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan kill at least 13 people | AP News. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-pakistan-airstrikes-children-killed-addc32b921147ed5bc1ee7b7b2cd5384?user_email=bd2c428b35d2f2d999bc6f7e665bad1355a8dd3247b2afc8121729c30cd9a01a&utm_medium=APNews_Alerts&utm_source=Sailthru_AP&utm_campaign=NewsAlert_Jun09_2026_10:57PM&utm_term=AP%20News%20Alerts