Pakistan carried out fresh air strikes in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, according to Taliban authorities, marking a new escalation in tensions between the two neighbouring Asian countries.
Taliban chief
spokesperson and Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes targeted the provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika.
According to Mujahid, at least 13 civilians were killed in the attacks. He said the victims included 11 children, one woman and one elderly man.
Writing on X, Mujahid said, “As a result of these attacks, 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed.” He also condemned the strikes, describing them as a “humanitarian crime and act of aggression”.
However, there was no immediate confirmation or response from Pakistan regarding the reported military action.
India raises Afghanistan-Pakistan issue at UN
The reported strikes came a day after India criticised Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council over air strikes in Afghanistan that allegedly resulted in large-scale civilian casualties.
Earlier, on May 21, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Harish Parvathaneni, had also accused Pakistan of carrying out cross-border violence in Afghanistan that caused hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries.
The latest developments are likely to further draw attention to the deteriorating security situation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Afghanistan-Pakistan relations strained
Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan have remained tense since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghanistan to take action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that Islamabad considers a major security threat. However, Taliban officials in Afghanistan have alleged that Pakistan itself provided support to hostile groups involved in actions against Afghan sovereignty.
The relationship between the two countries worsened further after a series of explosions struck Kabul in October 2025.
The latest air strikes add another layer of tension to an already fragile relationship, with both sides continuing to exchange accusations over security and cross-border militancy.
