Pakistan carries out fresh air strikes in Afghanistan
Kabul reports nine civilian deaths, while Islamabad says only militant targets were hit.
Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan have killed nine civilians and injured eleven people, according to the Afghan Taliban government. Pakistan says the attacks targeted militant positions and denies that civilians were hit.
The attacks took place on Thursday against a backdrop of rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to Associated Press, the Afghan government said the bombardments had caused civilian casualties. The Pakistani authorities presented a different account: Islamabad said that only militant positions had been attacked.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban government of allowing Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, better known as the TTP, room to carry out attacks from Afghan territory. Kabul denies that Afghan territory is being used for attacks on Pakistan and has described previous air strikes as violations of Afghan sovereignty.
The Pakistani government says the new operation was necessary after attacks that it says were prepared from Afghanistan. In an earlier statement, the Ministry of Information said that Pakistan was exercising its right to self-defence. Details of the locations and means used have not been independently established.
The Afghan authorities, by contrast, say that Pakistan hit civilian areas. The two governments have once again provided opposing versions of the same events. Independent verification of the reported deaths, injuries and targets is difficult because access to the border area is limited.
The escalation follows months of mutual accusations and earlier border clashes. According to Associated Press, the UN mission in Afghanistan has already documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries caused by cross-border violence this year. That figure covers the wider period and not only Thursday’s attacks.
The new air strikes increase pressure on regional mediators to contain the tensions. For now, it is unclear whether Islamabad and Kabul are planning new direct talks. Nor has it been established whether the attacks were a one-off operation or the beginning of a longer campaign.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Pakistan carried out attacks on Afghan territory.
- The Afghan government reports civilian deaths and injuries.
- Pakistan says it attacked militant targets and invokes self-defence.
- Independent verification of the casualty figures is lacking.
Left
Arguments The emphasis is on protecting civilians and complying with international law. Cross-border air strikes without independent oversight can set a dangerous precedent and should, from this perspective, be stopped.
Values The international rules-based order, human rights and the protection of civilians.
Consequences Continuing the attacks could cause further displacement and regional instability; diplomatic pressure and humanitarian access should be prioritised.
Centre
Arguments Pakistan has security interests, and Afghanistan must prevent armed groups from operating from its territory. At the same time, transparency, proportionality and direct communication are needed to prevent escalation.
Values Security, proportionality and institutional diplomacy.
Consequences A controlled channel for negotiations and joint border monitoring could limit the violence without ignoring security concerns.
Right
Arguments A state may defend itself against attacks prepared from a neighbouring country, even when the other government does not act effectively. From this perspective, responsibility first lies with Kabul to eliminate militant groups.
Values National sovereignty, order and the protection of its own population.
Consequences In this view, restraint could invite further attacks; strong military pressure may deter them, but carries the risk of further war.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is based on recent reporting by Associated Press and official statements from both countries. Contradictory claims are presented as such and not as established facts.
- confirmed Pakistan carried out air strikes in Afghanistan on Thursday. — Reported by Associated Press; the Afghan and Pakistani statements also confirm that attacks took place. source
- confirmed Kabul reported nine civilian deaths and eleven injuries. — Associated Press attributes this figure to the Afghan Taliban government. source
- confirmed Pakistan says it hit only militant targets. — The Pakistani account appears in AP reporting and in earlier official statements. source
- confirmed The UN mission documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries caused by cross-border violence this year. — Associated Press refers to the UN mission in Afghanistan for this broader annual figure. source
- confirmed The TTP is a central source of Pakistan’s accusations against Kabul. — AP describes Pakistan’s accusations and the relationship between the TTP and the Taliban government. source
Editor's note
It is certain that Pakistan carried out attacks and that Kabul and Islamabad have issued opposing statements about them. The exact locations, targets and civilian casualties have not been independently established.Sources
- Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan kill 9 civilians, Kabul says; Pakistan says only militants hit — Associated Press
- Pakistan condemns deliberate, unlawful incursion into its territory from Afghanistan — Radio Pakistan
- MoFA Summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „afghanistan pakistan”
- RTL Nieuws — „afghanistan pakistan”
- NOS — „afghanistan pakistan”