At least three people have been killed and several others wounded in Pakistani air strikes in northeastern Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials.

The strikes were reported in Kunar and Paktika provinces early Monday morning. Afghan officials said a house in Pataan area of Nurgal district in Kunar was destroyed in the attack, while another strike reportedly hit Barmal district in Paktika.

Faridullah Dehqan, a spokesperson for Kunar police, said that three people, including two women and a man, were killed and four others were wounded in the strike.

Pakistan, however, has given a different account. Its Information Ministry said that 28 “terrorists” were killed in air strikes on three targets in Afghanistan.

The strikes come days after a bombing at a police facility in Kohat, Pakistan, killed at least 21 people, mostly police officers. Pakistan has blamed fighters based in Afghanistan for the attack and had warned that it would target militant groups inside Afghanistan.

Ruins of a home stuck by Pakistan on 21 September 2026

Afghanistan's Taliban government has condemned the Pakistani air strikes, accusing Islamabad of targeting civilians and violating Afghan sovereignty.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said that the strikes in Kunar and Paktika were an act of “aggression and oppression”. He also warned that Afghanistan would deliver a “fitting response”.

In a tweet on X, Mujahid stated: “Crime and Aggression: Last night, once again, Pakistani invading forces bombed civilian areas in Afghanistan's Kunar and Paktika provinces.

In Kunar, one woman, 2 men were martyred and 2 women, 2 men were wounded, all of whom are ordinary local residents.

In Paktika, one house and one grocery store were bombed, with no casualties.

We condemn this aggression and oppression and consider it a repetition of crimes.

The Pakistani military establishment, in order to divert attention from its security failures in its own country, has once again committed such a crime.

Afghans will give it an appropriate response, inshallah ta'ala”
 

The latest strikes have once again brought tensions between Kabul and Islamabad to the fore.

Pakistan says it is targeting militants responsible for attacks inside its territory. Afghanistan, meanwhile maintains that Pakistan is externalising its domestic issues and accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty and is killing civilians.

Aftermath of the airstrike

This story has been written with inputs from Syed Sami Ul Haq Patman from Kabul, Afghanistan

Deepak Bhadana

Over the past decade, Deepak Bhadana has built expertise in multimedia storytelling, with a focus on military conflicts, insurgencies, international relations, the defence industry, and occasionally, wildlife and environmental issues.