Pakistani airstrikes kill at least 36 civilians in Afghanistan, wounding over 160

Jun 29, 2026

Pakistani forces conducted airstrikes and ground operations along the Afghanistan border overnight on June 28-29, 2026, killing at least 36 civilians and wounding over 160 according to Afghan officials, with the UN independently confirming at least 28 deaths and 49 wounded. Pakistan claims it targeted militant hideouts in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces in response to attacks inside Pakistan, including a Karachi assault that killed three soldiers, and says it killed 29 fighters. Afghanistan condemned the strikes as acts of aggression and vowed to respond, while both countries summoned each other's diplomats in protest. The escalation comes despite April 2026 China-mediated talks where both nations agreed not to escalate their conflict, which has killed hundreds since February 2026.

Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan

▪Pakistani forces conducted ground operations and strikes in Afghanistan overnight on June 28-29, 2026.
▪Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani security forces carried out a ground operation along the Afghanistan border late on June 28, 2026, followed by strikes against militant hideouts.
▪Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the June 28-29, 2026 operations killed 29 fighters.
▪Pakistani forces struck targets in Afghanistan's Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces on June 28-29, 2026.

Cross-border militant attacks

▪Pakistan said the June 28-29, 2026 operations were launched in response to militant attacks across Pakistan.

Civilian casualties in provinces

▪Hamdullah Fitrat said when residents gathered to rescue people in Paktia's Chamkani district, the area was struck again, killing 28 villagers and wounding 158.
▪Afghan officials said Pakistani forces' ground operations and strikes wounded more than 160 civilians in Afghanistan overnight on June 28-29, 2026.

UN confirmation of deaths

▪The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the casualty figures from the June 28-29, 2026 strikes were preliminary and could increase.
▪The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the casualties from the June 28-29, 2026 strikes included women and children.
▪The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan independently confirmed that at least 28 civilians were killed in the June 28-29, 2026 strikes.

Summoned diplomats over strikes

▪Afghanistan and Pakistan summoned each other's top diplomats on June 29, 2026 to protest the June 28-29, 2026 attacks.

Pakistan-Afghanistan escalation cycle

▪Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi said Afghanistan would respond to the June 28-29, 2026 strikes in due time.
▪Afghanistan condemned the June 28-29, 2026 strikes as a cowardly act of aggression and an act of brutality.
▪Hundreds of people have been killed in cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan since February 2026.
▪Pakistani officials said an uneasy calm prevailed along the Afghanistan border on June 29, 2026, with security forces remaining on high alert.
▪China hosted Pakistan and Afghanistan for talks in April 2026.
▪Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes in February 2026 after Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghan territory.
▪Beijing said Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed in April 2026 not to escalate their conflict and to explore a solution.
▪The June 28-29, 2026 cross-border strikes and ground operation came less than three weeks after Pakistan's military launched airstrikes on what Pakistan said were militant hideouts in Afghanistan.