The aftermath of Pakistan’s air strikes in Afghanistan | Pakistan Taliban News
Pakistan Launches Strikes on Armed Groups in Afghanistan
Published: February 22, 2026
Pakistan has initiated military strikes against alleged armed groups operating within Afghanistan, attributing recent violent incidents, including suicide bombings during Ramadan, to these entities.
The Afghan government has consistently denied allegations that it permits armed factions to launch attacks from its territory.
In response to the strikes, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence reported that “dozens of innocent civilians, including women and children, were martyred and wounded” in airstrikes targeting a school and residential areas in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika. According to Nangarhar police, the bombardments commenced around midnight local time and affected three districts.
“Civilians were killed. In one house, there were 23 family members. Five wounded people were taken out,” said police spokesperson Sayed Tayeeb Hammad.
The Afghan Defence Ministry has vowed to respond appropriately to Pakistan’s military actions.
Relations between the two nations have soured since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. According to a United Nations report, Pakistani military operations resulted in the deaths of 70 Afghan civilians from October to December of this past year.
Despite multiple rounds of negotiations following a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey, efforts to establish a lasting agreement have stalled. Saudi Arabia intervened earlier this month, facilitating the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October.
The ongoing tensions have severely impacted both countries, with the shared border remaining largely closed for several months.
