Afghanistan sharply criticised Pakistan after Islamabad carried out airstrikes on alleged terror targets inside Afghan territory, claiming the attacks resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians and constituted a violation of international law. Kabul warned that repeated cross-border operations would not distract from what it described as Pakistan’s internal security and intelligence failures.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry condemned the strikes, saying they targeted areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces and caused civilian casualties, including women and children. The ministry characterised the operation as an infringement on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a breach of international norms, neighbourly relations, and Islamic principles. It added that attacks on national institutions and religious locations demonstrated shortcomings within Pakistan’s own security apparatus rather than legitimate counterterrorism action.
Kabul also signalled that it reserves the right to respond, stating that protecting national territory and ensuring public safety remain its legal and national responsibilities. Officials warned that an “appropriate and calculated response” would be delivered at a time of Afghanistan’s choosing.
Pakistan, however, defended the operation, saying the strikes were intelligence-based and targeted terrorist camps operating near the border. Islamabad linked the action to a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the month of Ramzan, which it attributed to militants it calls “Khwarij,” a term used by Pakistan for the Pakistani Taliban. According to Pakistani authorities, the militants were allegedly operating from Afghan soil under the direction of leadership based there.
Pakistani officials said seven camps and hideouts associated with the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State–Khorasan Province were struck during the operation. Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has repeatedly denied accusations that its territory is being used to plan or launch attacks against Pakistan.
The latest confrontation marks a significant escalation in already strained relations between the two neighbours. Tensions had only recently eased after Afghanistan released three Pakistani soldiers in a Saudi-mediated effort aimed at reducing friction following months of border clashes.
Pakistan cited several recent attacks as justification for the strikes, including a bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad and violence in northwestern regions such as Bajaur and Bannu. In one incident, a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy, leading to a gunfight that killed multiple militants and two soldiers after an explosives-laden vehicle rammed a military vehicle.
The deteriorating security situation has repeatedly disrupted trade and civilian movement along the roughly 2,600-kilometre Afghanistan-Pakistan border, with crossings frequently closed during periods of heightened tension. Deadly clashes last October left dozens dead before a fragile ceasefire was reached, though mutual accusations over militant activity have continued to strain relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
