Pakistan Strikes 10 Sites in Afghanistan After Drone Attacks

Pakistan-Afghanistan border amid rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries. ( Photo credit: Siraj Ud Din/Wikimedia commons)

ISLAMABAD/KABUL, September 24, 2026: Pakistan says its military carried out air and drone strikes on 10 locations inside Afghanistan on Thursday after Islamabad said it detected and neutralised eight drones launched from Afghan territory a day earlier.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes targeted locations that Pakistan believes were being used to store and launch drones involved in attacks against Pakistan. He described the operation as limited to identified military objectives.

What happened?

According to Pakistani officials, eight drones launched from Afghanistan were detected and neutralised before reaching their intended targets in Pakistan. Islamabad subsequently announced strikes against 10 sites in Afghanistan.

Afghan officials said Pakistani aircraft struck areas in Khost province in southeastern Afghanistan. A spokesman for the Khost governor said there were no casualties there.

However, reports from Afghanistan said the strikes also affected other areas, including Kandahar, where a resident reported hearing an aircraft followed by a large explosion.

Civilian casualties disputed

There are conflicting accounts regarding casualties from the latest strikes. Reuters reported that Afghan officials said four civilians were killed, while Pakistan described the targets as military locations connected to attempted attacks against Pakistan.

This latest exchange follows Pakistani airstrikes on September 21. Pakistan said those earlier operations killed 28 militants, while Afghan authorities and the UN reported that three civilians were killed and four injured in the strikes.

Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan fighting?

Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated over accusations involving militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of allowing anti-Pakistan militants, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allied groups, to operate from Afghanistan. The Taliban government denies harbouring such groups and rejects Pakistan’s accusations.

The latest escalation also threatens mediation efforts involving China, Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which have been attempting to help reduce tensions between the two neighbours.

What happens next?

Pakistan has warned that further attacks from Afghan territory could trigger additional military action. At the same time, the Taliban government has condemned Pakistani strikes and previously indicated that it would respond to attacks on Afghan territory.

The situation remains fluid, and casualty figures and details of the targeted locations may change as more information becomes available.