Pakistan Launches Airstrikes in Afghanistan After Drone Incursions

The Government of Pakistan launched two separate waves of precision airstrikes and drone operations against targets in Afghanistan between September 21 and September 24, 2026. The initial strikes in Kunar and Paktika provinces followed a September 18 attack on a Pakistani police facility that killed 24 people. While Pakistan claimed to have killed 28 militants, the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan confirmed at least three civilian deaths.

Tensions escalated on September 23 when Pakistan's air defenses shot down eight drones near Torkham and Kohat. Simultaneously, Pakistani forces foiled an infiltration attempt by Fitna al-Khawarij militants in the Kurram sector and clashed with Afghan Taliban forces at the border. In response, Pakistan launched a second wave of strikes on September 24, targeting 10 locations across Kandahar, Khost, and Paktia provinces, including a reported al-Qaida hub known as Camp Gecko.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the operations as "deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate" acts of self-defense. The Government of Afghanistan denied launching drones and reported four civilian deaths in the second wave of attacks. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strikes as "shameless acts of aggression" and warned of a decisive response. In a formal protest, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Pakistan's chargé d'affaires in Kabul.

The Government of India also condemned the strikes, stating such aggression threatens regional peace. The ongoing hostilities threaten mediation efforts led by China, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as Pakistan continues to accuse the Taliban of harboring militants.