Pakistan says it struck 10 sites in Afghanistan; Kabul reports four civilian deaths

Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan said its air force struck 10 locations in Afghanistan on Thursday that were used to launch and store drones, including some used against Pakistan a day earlier. Kabul said the strikes killed four civilians.

Pakistan describes strikes

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on X that Pakistan’s air defence systems detected drones launched from Afghan territory on Wednesday and tracked and neutralised them before they reached their intended targets.

Pakistan then carried out “precision aerial and drone strikes” against 10 locations, which Tarar said were limited to identified military objectives linked to the attempted attacks. He warned that any further provocative act by the Afghan Taliban would meet a “firm and resolute response”.

Taliban denies launching drones

Taliban officials denied that their government launched drones against Pakistan on Wednesday. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Thursday’s strikes hit Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces and warned of an appropriate response.

“Such reckless, careless, and hostile actions will undoubtedly provoke the anger of the Afghan people and will have adverse consequences for the Pakistani military,” he said.

The strikes mark a further escalation between the two Muslim neighbours, once allies but now increasingly at odds over expanding insurgencies along their western and northwestern border region. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring Islamist militants who carry out cross-border attacks. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies the accusation and says militancy is Pakistan’s internal problem.