Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 13 in 3 Afghan Provinces as 11 Children Die
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 10
Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 13 in 3 Afghan Provinces as 11 Children Die
3 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 10
Summary
At least 13 people were killed and 14 injured after Pakistan struck Kunar, Khost and Paktika, with Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid saying the dead included 11 children.
Mujahid said the strikes hit civilian homes and violated Afghan airspace, while Pakistani security officials said the targets were hideouts and facilities used by Pakistani militants.
Islamabad has accused Kabul of sheltering militants behind attacks in Pakistan, a charge the Taliban rejects, saying Pakistan's militancy problem is domestic.
The strikes revive a conflict that has killed hundreds this year and threaten a March ceasefire reached after the two countries' worst fighting in years in February, with China trying to mediate.
How can Pakistan and Afghanistan escape their deadly cycle of retaliatory violence?
Will the alleged bombing of a civilian rehab center ever face independent investigation?
As the conflict escalates, can China's mediation protect its massive regional investments?
2026 Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict: Civilian Deaths, Displacement, and the Breakdown of Regional Diplomacy
Overview
From late February to March 2026, the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict sharply escalated, leading to a surge in civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Prior to this, UNAMA had already reported dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, with violence continuing into the new year. The crisis peaked with airstrikes in Kabul, including a devastating attack on a drug rehabilitation hospital, which drew international condemnation and calls for accountability. The conflict caused mass displacement, disrupted essential services, and made humanitarian access difficult, highlighting the severe impact of ongoing hostilities on civilians and the urgent need for de-escalation.