Pakistan air strikes kill civilians in Afghanistan's Kunar, Paktya and Paktika provinces

Pakistan launched cross‑border air strikes on Afghanistan's eastern provinces of Kunar, Paktya and Paktika, saying the raids were retaliation for an attack that killed three Pakistani security personnel. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed at least 28 civilians were killed and 49 wounded, including women and children.

The Pakistani government reported that the operations targeted militants and claimed the deaths of 25‑29 terrorists, among them a leader of the Jamaat‑ul‑Ahrar group. Afghanistan's Taliban‑led authorities accused Pakistan of causing civilian casualties.

The European Union called for the immediate protection of civilians and a prompt de‑escalation, urging respect for international humanitarian law amid the heightened bilateral tensions.