The pre-dawn strikes targeted areas in Nurgal district of Kunar province and Barmal district of Paktika province." />
WorldPosted at: Sep 21 2026 6:29PM


Pakistan Air Force carries out airstrikes on alleged militant hideouts in Afghanistan; Taliban warns of response

Islamabad, Sep 21 (UNI) The Pakistan Air Force carried out cross-border air strikes on alleged militant hideouts in eastern Afghanistan early on Monday, killing over three civilians, with Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman, terming Pakistan's latest airstrikes as a "war crime" and warning they "will not go unanswered."
The pre-dawn strikes targeted areas in Nurgal district of Kunar province and Barmal district of Paktika province.
They came in retaliation for Friday's suicide bombing at a mosque inside a police facility in north-western Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which killed at least 16 people and wounded dozens more.
Pakistan said the operation targeted militant hideouts linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, groups Islamabad accuses of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan.
According to Pakistani officials, the strikes eliminated over 28 suspected militants when fighter jets and drones struck targets in Patang in Nurgal district and Torkandi and Rukha in Barmal district, according to reports.
However, the Taliban government said the strikes killed three civilians — a woman and two men.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan's military leadership of launching the strikes to divert public attention from what he described as Islamabad's growing internal security failures. He said the attacks targeted Afghan territory and civilians, adding that the Taliban would respond to what it called repeated violations of Afghanistan's sovereignty.
Taliban officials said the strikes hit residential areas rather than militant camps.
The latest strikes come amid months of escalating cross-border tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban administration. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of providing sanctuary to TTP militants operating from Afghan territory, allegations the Taliban deny, insisting militancy in Pakistan is an internal issue.
Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said a home belonging to a villager, Noor Ahmad, in Pathan village in Nurgal was destroyed, killing him and two members of his family and injuring four other relatives.
Pakistan's military has not yet issued an official statement on the strikes.
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has condemned Pakistan's airstrikes in the eastern provinces of Kunar and Paktika, describing the attacks as a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty and expressing condolences to the families of those killed, Khaama reported.
In a statement posted on social media on Monday, Karzai said Pakistan's military operations inside Afghanistan violated the country's territorial integrity and urged Islamabad to abandon policies that fuel instability between the two neighbors.
Karzai argued that Pakistan's current security challenges are the result of what he described as decades of "mistaken policies" toward Afghanistan. He said military action inside Afghanistan would not resolve those challenges and instead deepen mistrust between the two countries.
"Pakistan should reconsider its policies and choose the path of good neighborliness, friendly relations, and civilized engagement with Afghanistan," Karzai said.
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained strained since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration of failing to prevent militants from using Afghanistan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan, while the Taliban deny the allegations and insist they do not allow Afghanistan soil to be used against other countries.
The latest strikes mark another escalation in tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of allowing militants to operate from its territory and has carried out cross-border strikes in response.
Kabul has rejected those allegations and has accused Pakistan of striking civilians, including women and children.
Last month, Mujahid told RT that Afghanistan had not initiated the border fighting.
"Defending ourselves is our right, but we are neither the initiators nor do we want it to continue," he said.
UNI ANV RN
Tags: #Pakistan Air Force carries out airstrikes on alleged militant hideouts in Afghanistan; Taliban warns of response
More News

Passengers across UK face delays and cancellations as technical issues hamper air control

21 Sep 2026 | 9:29 PM

London, Sep 21 (UNI) Passengers across the UK faced flight delays and cancellations on Monday after a technical problem with air traffic control systems at Nats’ Prestwick centre in Scotland.

see more..

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi detained for 30 days prior to planned Sep 27 march

21 Sep 2026 | 8:53 PM

Islamabad, Sep 21 (UNI) Former Pakistan prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan's sisters Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were detained for 30 days on Monday, days before the party's planned September 27 countrywide protest and march to Islamabad. The detention of both women was ordered under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, according to Dawn.

see more..

21 Sep 2026 | 8:03 PM

Islamabad, Sep 21 (UNI) Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that 70-80% of people carrying out terrorist attacks on mosques, schools, markets and Pakistan's military are Afghan nationals, further escalating Islamabad's rhetoric against Afghans and the Taliban authorities in Kabul.

see more..

Egypt, Sudan and US officials discuss efforts to end Sudan war

21 Sep 2026 | 7:56 PM

Cairo, Sep 21 (UNI)Egypt’s foreign minister met his Sudanese counterpart and a senior U.S. adviser on Sunday to discuss efforts to end Sudan’s war and restore security and stability, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said.

see more..

Kali idol, gold ornaments stolen from Hindu temple in Bangladesh's Faridpur

21 Sep 2026 | 7:35 PM

Dhaka, Sep 21 (UNI):As concerns mount over the safety of places of worship for Hindus in Bangladesh, a Goddess Kali idol, along with several ornaments and religious artefacts, was stolen from the Uttar Kalibari Temple in Faridpur city, local media reported on Monday, citing temple authorities.

see more..