In brief
Pakistan launched airstrikes on Afghan border provinces, killing at least 28 civilians and injuring 49, UN says. Taliban described the operation as a cowardly act, while Pakistan insists it struck militant hideouts. The attacks come amid strained relations after a recent ceasefire slippage, raising concerns over cross‑border violence and civilian protection.
UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that Pakistani airstrikes and ground incursions into Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces on Sunday left at least 28 civilians dead and 49 injured, including women and children.
Taliban spokesman said the strikes, described as a ‘cowardly act’ and an ‘atrocity’, hit residential houses in Mandokhail village, a small settlement on the western frontier.
Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar said the operation targeted militant hideouts and claimed 29 terrorists were killed, citing a response to recent cross‑border attacks.
The ceasefire agreement signed in October has since collapsed, following weeks of deadly confrontations along the border. The latest strikes come a day after a Taliban‑linked paramilitary unit in Karachi was attacked, claiming the lives of three Pakistani police officers.
The UN peacekeeping mission emphasises that the majority of casualties are civilians, with one eyewitness noting children, elderly and women sleeping inside houses were struck.
The ongoing border conflict has seen intermittent clashes and airstrikes, with the Taliban accusing Pakistan of unprovoked attacks killing civilians, while Pakistan denies targeting non‑combatants.
Recent history includes a 2015 raid on a Kabul drug rehabilitation centre that killed hundreds, and June 2026 airstrikes that killed 26 militants and reportedly 13 civilians, mostly children.
As the situation evolves, pulsewire will provide live updates from the field and crowdsourced fact‑checking to keep readers informed with the latest verified information.
