Pakistan Air Raids in Afghanistan Kill Civilians

Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions have intensified following reported Pakistani air raids in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces on September 30, with Afghan authorities reporting civilian deaths and injuries. According to Al Jazeera and Reuters, Afghanistan’s Taliban government said the attacks killed at least nine people, described as women and children, and wounded 11 others. Three houses were also reported destroyed.

The strikes reportedly took place late Wednesday and affected two geographically separate parts of Afghanistan. Kunar is located in northeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border, while Helmand lies in the country’s south. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attacks and described them as an act of aggression. Afghanistan has also rejected Pakistan’s accusations that it is allowing armed groups to operate from Afghan territory.

Pakistan, meanwhile, presented a different account of the military operation. Its Ministry of Information said the strikes targeted camps and hideouts associated with armed groups. Pakistani authorities said the operation was based on intelligence and claimed that 22 fighters were killed. Pakistan also said weapons and ammunition stored at the targeted locations were destroyed. These claims could not be independently verified by Al Jazeera.

The United Nations provided another assessment of the reported casualties. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the strikes killed at least 10 civilians, mostly children, and injured nine people. UNAMA called for de-escalation, dialogue and respect for international law, while warning about the continuing impact of cross-border violence on civilians.

The latest Pakistan air raids in Afghanistan come after a period of renewed tension between the neighbouring countries. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of allowing the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and other armed groups to use Afghan territory for attacks inside Pakistan. Afghan authorities deny the accusation and have argued that Pakistan’s military actions have harmed civilians.

Relations between the two countries have experienced repeated periods of confrontation. A temporary ceasefire involving the TTP and Pakistani authorities broke down in late 2022, after which Pakistan has faced continuing militant attacks, particularly in areas near the Afghan border. Pakistan has subsequently carried out military operations and air attacks against what it says are militant targets inside Afghanistan.

The situation is particularly sensitive because communities living near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border can be directly affected by military operations. The reported destruction of homes and civilian casualties has increased concerns about the humanitarian consequences of continued cross-border attacks.

UNAMA said last week that it had documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan linked to cross-border violence so far this year. The figure highlights the broader impact of tensions beyond individual military operations.

The latest Kunar airstrikes and Helmand airstrikes therefore represent another serious development in the strained relationship between Kabul and Islamabad. While Pakistan says its operations are aimed at armed groups, Afghan authorities have reported civilian casualties, creating competing accounts of what occurred. Independent verification of some claims remains limited.

The incident is likely to keep attention focused on border security, militant activity, civilian protection and diplomatic efforts between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The United Nations has urged both sides to reduce tensions and pursue dialogue to prevent further civilian harm.