Pakistan strikes Afghanistan; casualty figures disputed
Pakistan conducted airstrikes at two locations in Afghanistan, stating that 22 fighters were killed. The Afghan government contested this account, reporting that nine women and children died in the attacks on Kunar and Helmand provinces.
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Pakistan launched airstrikes against targets inside Afghanistan, claiming 22 fighter deaths across two locations, according to Al Jazeera. The Afghan government disputed the characterisation of the strikes, reporting instead that nine women and children were killed in attacks on Kunar Province and Helmand Province.
The conflicting accounts reflect the broader and increasingly bitter conflict between the two neighbouring countries, which has intensified throughout 2026. Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups operating from Afghan territory of launching cross-border attacks, while Kabul has accused Islamabad of targeting civilian populations in its retaliatory operations. The incident contributes to the rising toll of civilian casualties in a conflict that has damaged relations between the two countries and raised serious humanitarian concerns across their shared border regions.
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