UN Reports 13 Civilians Dead in Pakistani Airstrikes on Afghanistan

The United Nations confirmed that Pakistani military strikes in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 13 civilians and wounded seven others during overnight operations. The attacks have heightened tensions between the neighboring countries following recent suicide bombings in Pakistan that officials blamed on Afghanistan-based militants.

The United Nations confirmed Monday that Pakistani military operations in eastern Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians and left seven others wounded, marking a dangerous escalation in tensions between the two neighboring nations.

These casualties raise concerns about a potential return to retaliatory violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan, putting at risk a delicate ceasefire along their 1,600-mile shared border and worsening diplomatic relations as both countries blame each other for militant attacks.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the organization received “credible reports” that Pakistani air operations conducted during the night of February 21-22 resulted in civilian casualties in the Behsud and Khogyani areas of Nangarhar province.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban representative, had previously stated that dozens were killed or wounded in the military actions, which also targeted areas in Paktika province. Reuters was unable to confirm these casualty figures independently.

Pakistani officials justified the military action by pointing to recent suicide bombings, including attacks during Ramadan, which they attributed to militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

Pakistan’s information ministry stated on X that the “intelligence-based” mission targeted seven facilities belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan Province, claiming they possessed “conclusive evidence” that terrorist operations against Pakistan were coordinated by “Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.”

Afghan authorities have consistently rejected claims that they permit militant organizations to use their territory for launching attacks against Pakistan.

The military strikes occurred just days after Kabul freed three Pakistani military personnel through a Saudi-brokered prisoner exchange designed to reduce months of border tensions.

Afghanistan’s defense ministry denounced the strikes as violations of national sovereignty and international law, warning that an “appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time.” Additionally, the Afghan foreign ministry summoned Pakistan’s diplomatic representative.

In response to the February 21-22 operations, Afghanistan’s education ministry reported that eight students – five male and three female – died in Behsud within Nangarhar province, while one religious school student was injured in Barmal in Paktika province. The ministry added that numerous other civilians were killed or wounded and educational facilities were damaged. Reuters could not verify this information independently.

These recent military actions follow months of border conflicts and repeated frontier closures that have disrupted commerce and travel along the mountainous boundary region.