Pakistan carries out overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan, claims 22 killed

Pakistan carried out airstrikes at two locations in Afghanistan late Wednesday night, killing 22 militants, Islamabad claims. Kabul, however, says at least nine people, including women and children, were killed and 11 others injured in the strikes. Al Jazeera could not independently verify either side’s casualty claims.

On Thursday (October 1), Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said the strikes targeted hideouts and training camps of “Fitna al-Khawarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan” as part of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq.

According to the ministry, the targets in Kunar and Helmand provinces were struck based on reliable intelligence, destroying the sites along with large quantities of weapons and ammunition.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said the strikes were carried out late Wednesday night and destroyed three houses in Kunar and Helmand. He condemned the attacks as “aggression and a crime” against Afghanistan.

Pakistan has long accused the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups of using Afghan territory to launch cross-border attacks. Kabul has rejected these allegations.

A UN Security Council-mandated monitoring report said continued Taliban support for the TTP between December 16, 2025 and June 9, 2026 contributed to an increase in the number and lethality of terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The report also noted that Kabul had taken some initial steps to rein in the group.

Source: Al Jazeera