KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to immediately halt cross-border fighting that has entered its second week, warning the violence is worsening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
In a statement on Friday, Türk, citing UN reports, said that since the clashes began last week, at least 56 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan, including 24 children and six women, while 129 others have been wounded, including 41 children and 31 women.
The clashes have triggered mass displacement, with up to 66,000 people forced to flee their homes in Afghanistan due to airstrikes, artillery shelling, and ground fighting. In Pakistan, cross-border shelling and gunfire have also displaced residents.
At least two schools have been targeted, and more than 100 have been closed, according to UN reports.
“Civilians on both sides of the border are now having to flee from airstrikes, heavy artillery fire, mortar shelling, and gunfire,” Türk said. “I plead with all parties to bring an end to the conflict, and to prioritize helping those experiencing extreme hardship.”
The UN rights chief urged both sides to protect civilians in line with international human rights and humanitarian law and to conduct independent investigations into any possible violations. He called for the results to be made public and those responsible held accountable.
The UN has recorded civilian casualties from cross-border attacks in previous years. In 2025, at least 87 civilians were killed and 518 injured in Afghanistan, attributed to Pakistani military forces—the highest annual toll since UN tracking began in 2009. So far this year, 69 civilians have been killed and 141 injured in Afghanistan.
The clashes come amid a deep humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Nearly 22 million people—almost half the population—require aid, including more than 11.6 million children, according to the UN.
“As a result of the violence, humanitarian assistance is unable to reach many of those desperately in need. This is piling misery on misery,” Türk said. “The cycle of retaliation and violence only deepens the suffering of the wider population.”
The latest escalation began last Thursday evening when Taliban forces launched what they called a retaliatory operation against Pakistani positions following Pakistani airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. Pakistan has conducted further airstrikes since then.
The United Nations and several governments, including Iran, China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom, have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and resolution through dialogue, with some offering mediation.
Border crossings have remained closed since October 2025, halting trade and movement and inflicting heavy financial losses on traders.
Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan government have deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in 2025. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders and enabling cross-border attacks, an allegation the Taliban deny.
