Pakistan launches cross‑border strikes in Afghanistan, dozens reported dead

Pakistan’s military carried out simultaneous ground and air operations in eastern Afghanistan, targeting militants it said were linked to the Taliban. The Pakistani interior minister announced that 29 "terrorists" were killed in attacks on three sites in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar.

Afghanistan’s de‑facto government, however, said the strikes caused far higher civilian casualties, reporting at least 35 dead – including women and children – and about 40 injured, according to the Tolo News network. Afghan spokesperson Zambula Mujahint described the bombings as “an unjust attack”, “a crime” and “an act of barbarity”.

The operations were presented by Islamabad as retaliation for recent attacks on Pakistani soil, notably an incident in Karachi that killed three security personnel. The cross‑border assaults have reignited tensions that had briefly eased after a temporary cease‑fire, marking a sharp escalation in the already strained Pakistan‑Afghanistan relationship.