Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktia province killed at least 36 civilians and injured more than 160 people overnight on Monday [1], [2], [3].
The escalation marks a significant increase in cross-border tensions between the two nations, threatening regional stability and risking further retaliatory violence.
Afghan officials said the strikes targeted areas within the eastern province of Paktia [1], [2], [3]. The casualty toll includes 36 deaths among the civilian population [1], while more than 160 others were wounded [2].
Pakistan said the operations were retaliatory actions following a terrorist attack in Karachi [4], [1]. While Afghan officials emphasize the civilian nature of the casualties, Pakistani sources provided a different account of the targets. Pakistan said it killed 25 militants during the strikes [4].
The discrepancy in casualty reports highlights the difficulty of verifying data in the region. Some reports mention dozens of civilians died, but do not specify the 36 figure cited by Afghan officials [4].
Local residents and officials in Paktia have reacted with alarm to the sudden military intervention. The strikes occurred during the early hours of Monday, June 29, 2026 [3]. Emergency services in the province worked to manage the high number of wounded individuals [2].
This incident follows a pattern of security volatility along the border. The use of airstrikes to respond to internal security breaches in Karachi demonstrates a willingness by the Pakistani military to conduct operations inside Afghan territory to neutralize perceived threats [4].
“Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktia province killed at least 36 civilians”
The use of retaliatory airstrikes by Pakistan within Afghan borders signals a shift toward more aggressive cross-border military engagement. By targeting Paktia province in response to an attack in Karachi, Pakistan is asserting a policy of preemptive or responsive strikes regardless of national sovereignty. This creates a precarious security environment where civilian casualties may become a recurring byproduct of counter-terrorism efforts, potentially further destabilizing the relationship between the two governments.
