KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least 10 civilians, most of them women and children, were killed and nine others wounded in airstrikes that struck Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces early on Thursday, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said.
In a post on X, UNAMA said civilians continue to be affected by cross-border hostilities. It called for de-escalation, dialogue, respect for international law and measures to prevent further civilian harm.
The mission did not name who carried out the strikes.
Both Taliban and Pakistani officials earlier reported the airstrikes that hit the Chugam and Shultan districts of Kunar province as well as the Safar and Carmser districts of Helmand, according to the Taliban authorities.
Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes targeted civilian homes, killing nine people and wounding 11 others. He condemned the attacks as an “act of aggression and crimes in violation of all accepted principles.”
Pakistan’s information ministry described the operations as “well planned and calibrated aerial strikes” aimed at the hideouts and safe havens of terrorist organizations. It said the strikes killed 22 militants.
The latest violence marks a further escalation in strained relations between Pakistan and the Taliban authorities in Kabul. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of allowing Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters and other militants to use Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban deny the allegation.
Cross-border violence has intensified since late last year. UNAMA has documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries resulting from cross-border armed violence in Afghanistan so far in 2026.
Despite mediation efforts by countries including China, Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement to end the hostilities.
