Pakistan Launches Deadly Airstrikes Inside Afghanistan; At Least 3 Killed in Kunar Province

An illustrative view of a military fighter jet. Pakistani aircraft launched pre-dawn cross-border airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces on September 21, 2026.( Photo credit: unsplash)

 KABUL / ISLAMABAD:Border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated dramatically following a fresh military offensive. In the early hours of Monday, September 21, 2026, Pakistani military jets carried out cross-border airstrikes in Afghanistan’s northeastern Kunar and southeastern Paktika provinces. According to local Afghan media outlet TOLOnews, provincial officials confirmed that the aerial bombardment killed at least three civilians and left several others wounded.

Residential Areas Targeted in Pre-Dawn Striking

Local sources revealed that the air raids took place between 2:30 AM and 3:00 AM on Monday while residents were asleep. In the Nurgal district of Kunar province, a Pakistani missile directly hit a residential house. The structure was completely leveled, causing civilian casualties inside.

Simultaneously, secondary airstrikes were reported in the Barmal district of Paktika province. Security officials noted that the bombs in Paktika struck an empty house and an old commercial shop. While significant property damage was recorded, no casualties were reported from the Paktika strikes.

The Catalyst Behind the Attack

Defense analysts believe Pakistan’s cross-border military operation is a direct retaliation to a major militant offensive that occurred just two days ago. Over the weekend, a suicide bomber and heavily armed insurgents launched a coordinated attack on a police station compound in northwestern Pakistan. Islamabad has historically accused the Taliban administration of allowing anti-Pakistan militant groups to use Afghan soil as a safe haven—a claim the Taliban consistently denies.

Fears of Active Warfare Reignited

This incident threatens to trigger a full-scale border conflict, mirroring the severe military clashes the two nations experienced earlier this year in February.

The latest strikes occurred despite explicit warnings from the Taliban defense ministry. Afghan authorities had previously stated that they were fully prepared to defend their territorial integrity and would aggressively counter any foreign military intrusion. With the Pakistani airstrikes resulting in civilian deaths, the region now faces an imminent risk of a strong military counter-response from the Taliban.