Once allies in the long Afghan war, Pakistan and Afghanistan are now trading airstrikes and body counts. On October 1, Pakistan carried out airstrikes on two Afghan provinces, calling them "planned and calibrated" operations against militant hideouts. The Taliban government says the strikes hit civilian homes in Helmand and Kunar, killing nine women and children and wounding eleven others. The United Nations has confirmed at least ten civilians dead — most of them children — and both Russia and the European Union are urging de-escalation. The region is edging toward its most dangerous border crisis in years.

The strikes: two versions of one night

The Pakistani information ministry said its forces hit two locations in Afghanistan "based on credible intelligence," claiming an initial toll of 22 militants killed and large quantities of weapons and ammunition destroyed. The strikes, it said, were carried out "with precision and accuracy" against terrorist camps and hideouts.

The Taliban government told a starkly different story. Its deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said strikes hit Helmand province in the south and Kunar in the east, killing ten civilians. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid later specified that three houses were destroyed, nine women and children killed and eleven civilians wounded. "We condemn this act, and consider this an act of aggression and a crime that violates all universally accepted principles," Mujahid said.

Residents quoted by Agence France-Presse described the scene in Helmand's Safar village: "The whole area is destroyed," said 32-year-old Qudrat Ullah. "There were civilians, children, women; they have killed them. There is no military or anything else."

The competing claims could not be independently verified, but the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan put the confirmed civilian toll at at least ten dead and nine injured, and called on both sides to respect international law.

From allies to enemies: how the truce collapsed

The escalation did not come from nowhere. Conflict has been intensifying all year, with sporadic attacks continuing since a March truce failed to resolve the underlying security disputes. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants behind frequent bomb and gun attacks inside Pakistan; the Taliban government denies this and accuses Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty and killing civilians.

Earlier this week, Afghanistan's defence ministry claimed its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 others in the eastern province of Nuristan after the group crossed the border from Pakistan — alleging the fighters included Islamic State militants and that Pakistani militias had supported them. Pakistan's information ministry dismissed the allegations as "frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth," saying Kabul had provided no evidence.

The UN mission documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan from cross-border violence so far this year — a grim measure of how far the situation has deteriorated.

The world reacts

On Saturday, Russia expressed deep concern over the renewed fighting, with its embassy in Kabul warning the confrontation was hitting civilians, particularly children. The statement did not directly condemn Pakistan's strikes but called for an end to the military confrontation — notable from a country that formally recognized the Taliban government in July 2025. The European Union echoed the concern and called for restraint and dialogue.

Key takeaways

  • Pakistan's October 1 airstrikes hit Helmand and Kunar provinces; Islamabad claims 22 militants killed.
  • The Taliban government says nine women and children were killed; the UN confirms at least ten civilian deaths, most of them children.
  • The strikes follow the collapse of a March truce and a September clash in Nuristan that Afghanistan claims involved Pakistani-backed fighters.
  • Russia and the EU have urged de-escalation; the UN says over 1,100 civilians have been killed or wounded in cross-border violence this year.

FAQ

Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan fighting?

Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of sheltering militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies this, accuses Pakistan of violating its sovereignty, and says Pakistani strikes are killing civilians.

What is the Durand Line?

The 2,611-kilometre boundary between the two countries, which Afghanistan has never formally recognized as an international border — a longstanding territorial dispute that fuels every border incident.

Could this become a full-scale war?

Both sides have so far described their actions as calibrated or defensive, and international pressure for dialogue is mounting. But with airstrikes inside Afghan territory now a recurring tactic and civilian deaths climbing, the margin for miscalculation is shrinking fast.

Sources

Read more on Chronicle