10 Civilians Killed in Airstrikes in Afghanistan

At least 10 civilians, mostly children, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed the civilian casualties on Thursday, stating that nine other people were also injured in the attacks. These incidents have further escalated the already existing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. UNAMA reported that civilians suffered severe harm in the airstrikes in Kunar and Helmand provinces. According to the UN mission, the majority of the deceased were children. Expressing concern over the ongoing civilian toll due to cross-border violence, UNAMA urged both sides to de-escalate tensions, pursue dialogue, and respect international law. The Afghan government had previously reported a casualty figure of nine dead and 11 injured. According to Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, women and children were killed and three houses were destroyed in the attacks. He stated that the strikes were carried out in the northeastern province of Kunar and the southern province of Helmand. The Afghan administration condemned the action, terming it a violation of its sovereignty. UNAMA’s subsequent confirmation raised the civilian death toll to at least 10, while the number of injured was recorded as nine. Discrepancies in initial figures from various sources may be attributed to the process of gathering information from the sites and verifying casualties. Pakistan has presented a different account regarding these attacks. According to Pakistani officials, the operation targeted terrorist hideouts and weapons stockpiles. Pakistan claimed that 22 terrorists were killed in the strikes; this claim has not been independently verified. Pakistan maintains that the attacks were based on intelligence and that targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties. Rejecting Pakistan’s claims, the Afghan administration stated that civilian homes were damaged and women and children were killed in the attacks. While conflicting claims regarding the incident are being made by both nations, UNAMA has confirmed civilian casualties. This incident has occurred amidst escalating cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Relations between the two neighbors have been strained for some time due to allegations regarding the presence of terrorist organizations and cross-border attacks. Pakistan alleges that militants linked to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) use Afghan soil to launch attacks within Pakistan. The Afghan administration has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that Pakistan’s security issues are its own internal matter. Airstrikes and other violent incidents have also been reported in Afghanistan’s border areas in recent weeks. According to UNAMA, at least three civilians were killed and four injured in another airstrike in Kunar province on September 21. The UN mission stated that over 1,100 civilian casualties resulting from cross-border armed violence have been recorded in Afghanistan so far in 2026.