Taliban Reports 13 Civilians Killed in Pakistani Air Strikes, Citing Border Insecurity

Pakistan. The Taliban government of Afghanistan has stated that at least 13 civilians were killed and 14 injured in the latest air strike by Pakistan violating Afghan airspace. According to the Taliban, the attack has further escalated tensions between the two countries and the security situation in the border areas has become serious.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Pakistan bombed settlements in Kunar, Khost, and Paktika provinces between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. According to him, 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed in the attack.

Mujahid informed that 14 women were injured in the attack and also released pictures of the incident. The Taliban has interpreted this as a direct violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty and an attack on civilians.

According to Afghan officials, hundreds of people have lost their lives due to Pakistani military actions on Afghan soil in the last one year. It is said that the relationship between the two countries has been continuously deteriorating as cross-border tensions increase.

In a major attack in March, the Pakistani army claimed to have targeted a rehabilitation center in Kabul. According to the Taliban, at least 269 people were killed in that incident. Since then, military actions have been taking place repeatedly in the border areas.

It has been analyzed that the long-standing tension between the two countries turned into open cross-border conflict after Islamabad carried out widespread air strikes in various parts of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, in October 2025. Due to continuous attacks and clashes, tens of thousands of Afghan citizens have been displaced, and many families have been forced to leave their homes.

The Taliban has accused Pakistan of repeatedly intervening militarily in Afghan territory based on its internal security challenges. Pakistan, on the other hand, has been claiming that it is receiving support from groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) from Afghan soil.

Although Islamabad has reiterated its accusation that the Taliban is harboring these groups, the Taliban has been denying such accusations. According to the Taliban, Pakistan makes unverified accusations to escape responsibility for its security weaknesses.

According to analysts, the close relationship initially expected after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 could not last. Mistrust has been growing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Pakistan considered one of the major supporters of the Taliban for decades. Recent developments indicate that the relationship between the two neighboring countries is becoming more complex and tense.