Pakistan Launches Air Strikes on Afghanistan, Reigniting Tensions

Sat Jun 13 2026 12:53:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Pakistan just carried out deadly air attacks along its border with Afghanistan, sparking fresh tensions after months of stability.

In a swift move to crack down on perceived threats, Pakistani forces launched four focused air strikes near Afghanistan’s border, eliminating about 26 militants. The Taliban reported that 13 civilians, many children, were among the casualties. The attack follows a period of calm that began with a ceasefire in October, but tensions flare again after a February clash that left dozens dead. These events have reignited fears of a broader conflict in a region that has been fighting for stability for years.

Pakistan launches deadly air strikes in Afghanistan, reigniting tensions

Pakistani soldier beside fencing on the border with Afghanistan — Pakistani soldier standing beside a wire fence near the Afghanistan border.

Pakistan today launched four precision air strikes close to the Afghan border. The targeted sites were said to be militant hideouts and a training center.

Information Minister Atta‑ullah Tarar announced that 26 militants were killed in the attack. The Taliban, however, said 13 civilians, many of them children, were killed.

These actions break months of relative calm that began when the countries signed a ceasefire in October following a February clash that left dozens dead.

Earlier this year, a Pakistani air strike on an Afghan drug rehabilitation center in Kabul killed 269 people, marking the deadliest single attack in Afghanistan’s recent history.

Pakistan’s officials say the strikes are a response to “recent terrorist incidents” that target their security forces. Their spokesman also highlighted that the safety of its citizens is a priority.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government insists its territory is not being used to threaten other countries and demands it not be used to launch attacks.

These tensions are a stark reminder that borders in this region remain fraught and that peace is fragile. Read more about why Afghanistan and Pakistan fight.

Sources: BBC News, UN reports, Afghan government statements.

Stay tuned as the situation develops; check back for updates.

Tags: Asia | Pakistan | Afghanistan