Afghan Officials Say Pakistani Strikes Kill at Least 12 Civilians Near Border

At least 12 civilians, including children, were killed in airstrikes carried out near the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, according to Afghan government officials and local residents, marking the deadliest cross-border incident in weeks after a brief period of relative calm.

The Afghan government said the strikes hit multiple eastern provinces overnight, including Kunar, Khost, and Paktika. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban-led administration, said on social media platform X that Pakistani forces had violated Afghan airspace and bombed civilian homes.

He said 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were among the dead, calling the attacks a violation of sovereignty and condemning the targeting of residential areas.

In Khost Province, a local official speaking anonymously said a house in Spera district was struck, killing nine people and injuring 10 others. Emergency teams reportedly recovered victims from the rubble while residents rushed to assist survivors.

Separately in Paktika Province, two residents said another strike hit a home in Barmal district, killing three civilians. One resident said all those killed were children, describing scenes of destruction in the aftermath of the explosion.

Pakistani authorities, including the military and the prime minister’s office, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, Pakistan has previously stated that its cross-border strikes are aimed at militant groups operating along the frontier, particularly those responsible for attacks inside its territory, and insists it does not target civilians.

The latest incidents come after several months of fluctuating tensions along the border. A period of relative calm followed earlier clashes, but violence escalated sharply in late February, leading to heavy fighting and airstrikes on both sides.

During that earlier escalation, Pakistan conducted strikes deeper inside Afghanistan, including reported attacks on urban centres such as Kabul and Kandahar. The violence marked one of the most serious confrontations between the neighbours in recent years.

According to a United Nations report released last month, at least 372 Afghan civilians were killed and 397 injured during the first three months of the year as a result of cross-border violence and related clashes.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained strained since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Security concerns have dominated diplomatic engagement, particularly Pakistan’s allegations that Afghan territory is being used by militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to launch attacks across the border.

Islamabad maintains that the Afghan administration has not taken sufficient action against such groups. Afghan officials reject the accusations and instead accuse Pakistan of violating sovereignty and allowing hostile elements to operate within its own borders.

The border between the two countries has remained largely closed since renewed fighting in October, severely restricting cross-border trade and further straining already fragile relations.