Pakistan strikes in Afghanistan kill 36, officials say

June 29, 2026

1–2 minutes

Summary

Afghan officials said Pakistani strikes and border operations killed 36 civilians, while Pakistan said it targeted militants.

Why this matters

The strikes highlight worsening conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite repeated talks and mediation efforts. The violence adds to months of cross-border clashes that have killed hundreds and raised regional security concerns.

Pakistani ground operations and strikes overnight killed at least 36 civilians and injured more than 160 others in Afghanistan, Afghan officials said Monday, as tensions between the neighbors escalated.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani security forces carried out a ground operation along the border late Sunday, followed by strikes on militant hideouts and safe havens, killing 29 fighters. He said the operation was launched after multiple militant attacks in Pakistan.

Afghanistan condemned the strikes. Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, deputy minister for publications at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said Afghanistan would respond “in due time.”

“The military regime in a cowardly manner bombed Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces last night,” Farahi said. “This will definitely be retaliated against in due time. The decisions of the regime are not made based on emotions, but rather serious measures are taken at the right time.”

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Taliban government, said Pakistani forces struck a home in Paktia’s Chamkani district, killing an elderly man and a child and injuring other family members. He said that when residents gathered to rescue people, the area was struck again, killing 28 villagers and wounding 158.

Fitrat said six people, mostly women and children, were killed in a village in Giyan district, Paktika province, when another home was hit. A civilian home in Kunar province was also struck, he said, with no casualties reported but about 30 livestock killed.

Tarar posted three videos on X that he said showed projectiles hitting camps and safe havens of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Fitna al-Khwarij in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar. He said the strikes killed militants and destroyed weapons and ammunition stockpiles.

India denied any involvement after Pakistan accused Indian-backed militants.

The strikes came less than three weeks after Pakistan said it carried out airstrikes on militant hideouts in Afghanistan. Hundreds of people have been killed in cross-border fighting since February, and efforts including talks hosted by China have failed to produce a lasting ceasefire.

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Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani security forces carried out a ground operation along the border late Sunday, followed by strikes on militant hideouts and safe havens, killing 29 fighters. He said the operation was launched after multiple militant attacks in Pakistan.

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“The military regime in a cowardly manner bombed Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces last night,” Farahi said. “This will definitely be retaliated against in due time. The decisions of the regime are not made based on emotions, but rather serious measures are taken at the right time.”

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Taliban government, said Pakistani forces struck a home in Paktia’s Chamkani district, killing an elderly man and a child and injuring other family members. He said that when residents gathered to rescue people, the area was struck again, killing 28 villagers and wounding 158.

Fitrat said six people, mostly women and children, were killed in a village in Giyan district, Paktika province, when another home was hit. A civilian home in Kunar province was also struck, he said, with no casualties reported but about 30 livestock killed.

Tarar posted three videos on X that he said showed projectiles hitting camps and safe havens of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Fitna al-Khwarij in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar. He said the strikes killed militants and destroyed weapons and ammunition stockpiles.

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