Afghanistan’s Taliban government says Pakistani air strikes killed four civilians and damaged homes in several provinces, marking a further escalation between the neighbouring countries. Pakistan says the attacks were precise strikes against military targets linked to recent attempted attacks on its territory.

The strikes reportedly hit Kandahar, Paktia and Khost, with officials in Paktia reporting damage to a Taliban-controlled military corps and residents in Khost describing panic and damaged houses. Tensions resumed after a 18 September attack on a Pakistani police facility killed at least 31 people; Pakistan blames militants linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and accuses Kabul of sheltering them, while the Taliban denies this. The UN says cross-border violence killed at least 499 civilians and injured 1,216 between October 2025 and June 2026.