Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Pakistan Strikes Afghanistan Again as Kandahar Tensions With Taliban Soar
Pakistan says it attacked 10 places in Afghanistan.
It said the places were used to launch or store drones.
Pakistan said it acted after eight drones entered Pakistan and fighting occurred near the border.
A person in Kandahar said they heard a jet, a big explosion, and then saw a fire.
Kandahar is the hometown of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Pakistan also says the Taliban allows the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to operate from Afghanistan.
Kabul denies those accusations.
An earlier Pakistani attack reportedly killed three civilians, according to the Taliban and a United Nations mission.
Other countries have helped arrange temporary pauses, but the larger dispute remains unresolved.
Pakistan said it conducted aerial and drone strikes on 10 Afghan locations Thursday.
A Kandahar resident reported hearing a jet, an explosion, and seeing a fire in the city center.
Pakistan said the targets were sites used to launch and store drones.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes followed eight drones and border shelling attributed to Afghanistan.
The Taliban and the United Nations mission said an earlier Pakistani strike killed three civilians.
- Who
- Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban are involved; Pakistan also cited the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan militant group.
- What
- Pakistan said it carried out aerial and drone strikes on 10 sites in Afghanistan.
- When
- Thursday, in Pakistan’s second reported attack on Afghanistan that week; the previous strike occurred three days earlier.
- Where
- The reported targets were in Afghanistan, including Kandahar, Paktia, and Khost, though Pakistan did not identify them in its initial statement.
- Why
- Pakistan said it was responding to eight drones fired into Pakistan, border shelling, and militant attacks it attributes to networks operating from Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s account
Afghan and civilian concerns
Reason for the strikes
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan said its attacks were deliberate, precise, proportionate, and limited to military sites connected to drone launches and storage.
Afghan and civilian concerns
The strikes occurred inside Afghanistan, and the Taliban and the United Nations mission reported civilian deaths from an earlier Pakistani attack.
Militant activity in Afghanistan
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering or facilitating the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and failing to take credible action against networks attacking Pakistan.
Afghan and civilian concerns
Kabul has denied Pakistan’s allegations about militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
Responsibility for escalation
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan said drone attacks, border shelling, and militant attacks justified its military response.
Afghan and civilian concerns
The reported attacks have intensified tensions and produced repeated clashes, while broader peace efforts have failed to resolve the dispute.
- Reported strikes
- Pakistan said it struck 10 locations in Afghanistan.
- Reported location
- A local resident reported an explosion and fire in central Kandahar.
- Pakistani justification
- Pakistan cited eight drones fired into the country and shelling near border areas.
- Reported targets
- Pakistan said the locations were used to launch and store drones.
- Earlier attack
- Pakistan struck multiple cities in eastern Afghanistan three days earlier.
- Earlier civilian deaths
- The Taliban and the United Nations mission confirmed three civilians were killed in the earlier strike.
- Peace efforts
- Mediation by China, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia produced temporary ceasefires, but no lasting peace agreement.
