Pakistan Airstrikes into Afghanistan Spark New Tensions

Sat Jun 13 2026 13:11:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Pakistan launches deadly air strikes across its border with Afghanistan, reigniting tensions and drawing international scrutiny.

Pakistan launched a series of precise air strikes along its border with Afghanistan, killing at least 26 militants the government claims and claiming the attacks were a response to recent terror incidents. Afghan authorities say several civilians, including children, were among the casualties. The strikes, the first since a ceasefire was pledged last October, risk a new escalation after months of relative calm. Analysts warn that reciprocal attacks could spiral into a broader conflict. The incident follows a string of cross‑border incidents that have dogged both countries with instability.

Pakistan launches deadly air strikes in Afghanistan, reigniting tensions

Pakistani soldier beside a barbed‑wire fencing in North Waziristan — Pakistan said the strikes were in response to recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan.

Pakistan announced a coordinated bombing campaign along its 2,600‑kilometre border with Afghanistan, citing the need to strike militant safe‑houses. The Information Minister said 26 fighters were killed in "calibrated strikes" against four target sites.

In return, Afghanistan’s Taliban government reported that 13 people, mainly children, lost their lives in the air raids on three provinces. The casualties included infants and elderly victims, according to an official spokesman.

The long‑standing dispute over militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan dates back decades. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of allowing extremist groups to use Afghan territory for attacks on Pakistani soil, a claim the Taliban denies.

After clashes in February that left dozens dead and a March bombing of a Kabul rehabilitation centre that killed more than 260 people, the border region saw a brief ceasefire. The new strike operation, launched a day after an ambush near Peshawar that killed six soldiers, breaks that uneasy truce.

Pakistani officials emphasised that the security of its citizens remains the top priority, while the Taliban warned that Afghan territory is not being used to threaten other nations. Analysts fear that the resumed hostilities could open the door to a larger regional conflict if either side escalates further.

For deeper context on cross‑border tensions, see Why are Afghanistan and Pakistan fighting?