Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 36 civilians and wounded 160 others on Monday, according to Taliban officials. The strikes hit the village of Mandokhail in the Chamkani district of Paktia province, a region near the border with Pakistan.
Details of the Attack
The airstrikes occurred on June 29, 2026, targeting what Pakistani officials claimed were militant hideouts. However, local authorities reported that the bombs struck residential areas, killing mostly women and children. AP photographs showed residents walking through rubble as they searched for survivors.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attack, calling it a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty. He stated that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continued.
Civilian Casualties
The strike is one of the deadliest cross-border incidents in recent years. According to Afghan officials, the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals, with many in critical condition. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called for an investigation into the incident.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately comment on the civilian casualties, but a security official in Islamabad, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strikes targeted militants planning attacks on Pakistani soil.
Regional Tensions
The airstrikes have heightened tensions between the two neighbors. Afghanistan's Taliban government summoned the Pakistani ambassador to protest the attack. The incident also drew condemnation from human rights groups, with Amnesty International urging both sides to protect civilians.
This is not the first time Pakistan has conducted cross-border airstrikes into Afghanistan. Similar operations in 2022 and 2024 also resulted in civilian deaths, straining diplomatic relations.
