Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Pakistan Strikes 10 Afghan Drone Sites Amid Escalating Tensions
Pakistan says it attacked 10 places in Afghanistan connected to drones.
It says some drones had been launched from Afghanistan toward Pakistan the day before.
Pakistan says its defenses stopped those drones before they reached their targets.
Pakistani officials described the strikes as limited attacks on military sites.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government denied sending the drones and condemned Pakistan’s action.
Afghan officials said earlier Pakistani strikes killed civilians in Kunar and damaged buildings in Paktika.
A Khost official said the newest strikes in that province caused no casualties.
The two countries blame each other for allowing or supporting armed groups.
The United Nations says cross-border fighting caused hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries during April through June 2026.
Pakistan said it struck 10 Afghan locations allegedly used to launch or store drones.
Islamabad said drones launched from Afghanistan on Wednesday were intercepted before reaching their targets.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government denied launching the drones and condemned the strikes as aggression.
Reports differed on casualties: Khost officials said the latest strikes caused none, while Afghan officials reported civilian deaths and injuries from earlier attacks.
UNAMA recorded 399 civilian casualties from cross-border violence in Afghanistan between April and June 2026.
- Who
- Pakistan’s government and military, Afghanistan’s Taliban government, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, and civilians affected by the strikes.
- What
- Pakistan reported precision airstrikes on 10 Afghan locations allegedly used to launch or store drones, while Afghanistan rejected Pakistan’s account and reported civilian casualties from earlier strikes.
- When
- The latest strikes occurred early Thursday, September 24, after alleged drone launches on Wednesday; other strikes and clashes were reported earlier in the week.
- Where
- The reported targets included several areas of southeastern Khost, while other incidents involved Kunar, Paktika, Paktya, Kandahar, and Paktia.
- Why
- Pakistan said it acted in self-defense after alleged drone attacks and militant activity from Afghan territory; Afghanistan said Pakistan was attacking its territory and civilians.
Pakistan’s Position
Afghanistan’s Position
Purpose of the strikes
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan described the operation as deliberate, proportionate self-defense following alleged drone launches and cross-border militant attacks.
Afghanistan’s Position
Afghanistan described the strikes as hostile aggression against its territory and warned that it would respond.
Nature of the targets
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan said it struck identified military objectives linked to launching or storing drones and attempted attacks against Pakistan.
Afghanistan’s Position
Afghanistan said Pakistani aircraft targeted civilian areas, causing deaths, injuries, and damage to civilian property.
Responsibility for militancy
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan accused Kabul of harboring Islamist militant groups and said more than two dozen anti-Pakistani groups were present in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Position
The Taliban government denied harboring anti-Pakistani insurgents and said militancy is Pakistan’s internal problem.
- Reported targets
- Pakistan said 10 locations in Afghanistan were used to launch or store drones.
- Pakistan’s account
- Attaullah Tarar said drones launched from Afghan territory were detected, tracked, and neutralized before reaching their intended targets.
- Latest strike area
- A spokesperson for the Khost governor said the latest strikes occurred in several parts of southeastern Khost.
- Casualty discrepancy
- Khost officials reported no casualties from the latest strikes, while Afghan officials reported three deaths and four injuries in Kunar from earlier strikes; Reuters also reported that Kabul said four civilians were killed.
- Earlier property damage
- Afghan officials said a house and a local shop were damaged in Paktika, with no casualties reported there.
- UNAMA toll
- UNAMA documented 399 civilian casualties from cross-border violence between April and June 2026: 57 killed and 342 injured, including 40 women and 112 children.
- Recent escalation
- Pakistan said an attack on a police facility in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 24 people, while it also reported killing 28 militants in earlier airstrikes.
