Kabul condemns Pakistan border strikes as targeting civilians after Islamabad claims 70 militants killed

The government of Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of targeting civilian areas in its recent cross-border airstrikes, rejecting Islamabad’s assertion that the attacks killed at least 70 militants along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border over the weekend. The dispute has deepened tensions between the neighbours and drawn sharp diplomatic protests.

Pakistan’s deputy interior minister Talal Chaudhry told Geo News that its military had carried out precision strikes on what Islamabad described as terrorist “hideouts” along the border and claimed that 70–80 militants were killed.

Chaudhry did not provide evidence to support the figure. Afghan authorities have disputed the claim, saying that the strikes hit civilian homes, a madrassa and other non-military locations in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika.

Afghan officials said a number of civilians were killed and wounded in the bombardment. Mawlawi Fazl Rahman Fayyaz, provincial director of the Afghan Red Crescent Society in Nangarhar, said 18 people were killed and several others wounded in the strikes, including in residential areas.

The Afghan Ministry of Defence and the government spokesperson have described the attack as a breach of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and airspace.

In response, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul to formally protest the strikes. The ministry accused Pakistan of violating international norms and warned that Islamabad would be held responsible for the consequences of such actions. It also said protecting Afghanistan’s territory is its legal and religious duty.

According to Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar, the strikes were aimed at terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the Pakistan Taliban and affiliated groups, in an effort to prevent attacks on Pakistani soil.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused armed groups operating from Afghan territory of being responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, though Kabul has denied these allegations and rejects claims that its territory is used for militant operations.

Tensions between the two neighbouring countries have simmered for decades, with periodic outbreaks of violence along the porous frontier. The latest strikes have threatened to undo fragile ceasefires and complicate diplomatic efforts to stabilise border security.