Islamabad Says 22 Militants Killed as Kabul Reports Civilian Deaths

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated following a series of cross-border air strikes, with Islamabad saying its military targeted armed-group positions inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said the military killed 22 militants in what it described as calibrated aerial strikes against militant camps, hideouts and ammunition caches at two locations.

According to Pakistani officials, the operations targeted militant networks and their affiliates, with precautions taken to minimise civilian casualties.

Afghan authorities have disputed Pakistan’s account of the strikes. Kabul has accused Pakistan of killing nine women and children in attacks in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces.

The conflicting claims could not immediately be independently reconciled.

The latest strikes come amid heightened security tensions between the two neighbouring countries, which share a long and often difficult border.

Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about armed groups operating from Afghan territory and has accused militants of using bases inside Afghanistan to launch attacks against Pakistan. Afghan authorities have rejected accusations that they allow their territory to be used against neighbouring countries.

The escalation adds to wider concerns about regional security and the potential for further cross-border military action.

The two countries have previously engaged in diplomatic efforts to address security concerns along their border, but disputes over militant activity and cross-border attacks have continued to strain relations.

With both sides presenting different accounts of the latest strikes and their casualties, further developments are expected as authorities assess the security situation.