Pakistan launches strikes in Afghanistan, ‘dozens’ killed and wounded, Kabul says
France 24
by FRANCE 24February 22, 2026
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Pakistan launched multiple airstrikes targeting militant groups in eastern Afghanistan, sparking a fresh wave of violence as tensions between the two nations escalated. The strikes, which occurred overnight and targeted "terrorist training camps and hideouts," were reportedly in response to recent suicide bombings in Pakistan, including a devastating attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 40 people. Afghan officials reported that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured when the strikes hit residential areas and a madrasa in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. This marks the most significant cross-border military action since October 2022, which claimed over 70 lives on both sides.
The Pakistani government defended the operation as a "selective intelligence-based" campaign aimed at dismantling militant groups like the Taliban and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). However, Afghanistan's defense ministry condemned the strikes as indiscriminate violence against innocent civilians. Eyewitness accounts described harrowing scenes of rescue operations in remote mountainous areas, with residents using basic tools to dig through rubble and recover bodies. One survivor recounted the chaos and loss of life, while local police reported entire families being wiped out, including one household where five wounded survivors were rescued from a single destroyed home.
The conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has deepened since the Taliban takeover in 2021, with both sides accusing each other of harboring militants. Diplomatic efforts, including mediation by Saudi Arabia and failed negotiations brokered by Qatar and Turkey, have yielded little progress. The ongoing stalemate has severely impacted regional stability, with the shared land border remaining largely closed for months, straining economic ties and livelihoods in both countries. As tensions continue to rise, the humanitarian toll grows, with UN reports documenting high civilian casualties from previous strikes.
This escalating violence highlights the fragile security situation in South Asia and underscores the challenges of countering terrorism along international borders. The mutual accusations and lack of trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan have created a cycle of retaliation, further complicating efforts to resolve the dispute. With no immediate resolution in sight, the conflict continues to destabilize the region, raising concerns for global security and diplomatic relations.
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Originally published on France 24 on 2/22/2026