KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan and Amnesty International called for civilian protection and restraint following Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan that killed at least 13 civilians, including women and children.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Richard Bennett expressed “deep concern” over reports of numerous children and other civilians killed in the renewed conflict. He urged Pakistan and the Taliban authorities to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and abide by international law.
Amnesty International also voiced concern, calling for a thorough, independent, and impartial investigation into the reported harm to civilians. The rights group noted it was not the first instance of civilians bearing the brunt of such operations, citing UN figures of at least 70 civilians killed and over 470 injured from Pakistani strikes between October and December 2025.
“Amnesty International reiterates its calls to all parties involved in hostilities to take every necessary step to prevent harm to civilians in line with their obligations under international law,” Amnesty said.
Pakistan’s military carried out the strikes late on Feb. 21 into early Feb. 22, hitting seven locations in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. The military said the operations targeted camps and hideouts of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State affiliates following recent militant attacks inside Pakistan, including a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed credible reports of at least 13 civilians killed, including women and children, and seven others injured in strikes on Behsud and Khogyani districts of Nangarhar province. No civilian casualties were reported from strikes in Paktika.
Taliban authorities reported higher casualties, with up to 17 or 18 civilians killed, including 11 children, and accused Pakistan of targeting civilian homes and a religious seminary.
The strikes mark the latest in a series of Pakistani cross-border airstrikes in recent months. In October 2025, Pakistani jets targeted locations including Kabul and Kandahar, killing dozens, including women and children, and triggering days of border clashes before a fragile ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban authorities, once allies, have escalated since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering TTP leaders and fighters, providing them training and weapons for cross-border attacks. The Taliban has repeatedly denied the allegations.
