KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least four civilians were killed and 14 others injured in the latest Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul, the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed, marking a further escalation in hostilities between Pakistan and the Taliban.
In a statement posted on X, UNAMA stated the casualties, which include women and children, resulted from Pakistani strikes on the Pul-e-Charkhi area of Kabul on Thursday night.
UNAMA also noted that since February 26, at least 75 civilians have been killed and 193 others wounded across Afghanistan in clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters. The mission renewed its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further civilian harm.
According to Taliban authorities, Pakistan carried out airstrikes across four provinces on Thursday night, including Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, and Paktika. The Taliban said the strikes in Kabul hit residential neighborhoods, while in Kandahar, a fuel depot belonging to the private airline Kam Air near Kandahar International Airport was targeted.
Meanwhile, local Taliban authorities in Nangarhar reported that a Pakistani mortar struck a residential house in Momand Dara district on Friday around noon, killing a woman and a girl. Local sources said Pakistani attacks on Taliban military positions in the province were continuing, though further details on casualties or damage were not reported.
In retaliation, the Taliban Ministry of Defense said it carried out airstrikes on military facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday morning. The ministry claimed the strikes destroyed command centers, depots, and other installations, causing “significant human and material losses.”
Pakistan officials have not commented on the latest strikes or the Taliban’s retaliation.
The incidents come amid rising tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border since late February, with both sides exchanging attacks. Pakistan’s military says its operations target Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants and their support networks.
Humanitarian groups and regional powers, including China, Russia, and Turkey, have urged both sides to halt attacks, citing the urgent need to protect civilians and maintain stability along the border. Despite these calls, violence continues, raising concerns over further displacement, disruption of essential services, and a growing humanitarian crisis in affected provinces.
