Pakistani airstrikes kill 36 civilians in Afghanistan and wound 160, officials say

The attacks, which began in the early hours of the morning, hit residential areas near the border. Pakistani officials described the operation as a response to a series of cross-border militant raids that have killed dozens of Pakistani soldiers and civilians this year. 'We have the right to self-defense,' a Pakistani military spokesperson said.(source)

Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the strikes as 'a blatant act of aggression' and called on the international community to intervene. The ministry reported that the dead included women and children, and that hospitals in the region were overwhelmed.(source)

By June 29, the death toll had climbed to 36, up from an initial count of 24, as rescue workers pulled more bodies from the rubble. The wounded, 160 in total, were transported to clinics in Gardez and Jalalabad, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

This is not the first time Pakistan has conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Similar operations in 2022 and 2024 drew sharp rebukes from Kabul. But the scale of civilian casualties this time has amplified calls for a diplomatic resolution.

A senior NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the alliance was 'deeply concerned' and urged both sides to exercise restraint. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced it would investigate the incident.