Daijiworld Media Network - Kabul

Kabul, Oct 1: Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan killed nine people and injured 11 others on Thursday, according to the Afghan Taliban government, as tensions between the two neighbouring countries escalated following months of relative calm.

Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes destroyed three houses in Kunar and Helmand provinces. He said at least nine people, including women and children, were killed in the attacks.

Mujahid condemned the strikes, describing them as aggression and a violation of accepted principles. The Afghan Taliban government has repeatedly rejected Pakistan's allegations that militant groups, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operate from Afghan territory.

Pakistan has accused Kabul of allowing militants to use Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that its military operations target militant positions rather than civilians. Pakistan's Ministry of Information said the latest strikes targeted militant hideouts and reported that 22 militants were killed, while denying civilian casualties. The competing casualty claims could not be independently verified.

The latest strikes come amid renewed cross-border tensions between the two countries. Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan earlier in September, while Afghan authorities and the United Nations reported civilian casualties in some of those attacks.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented civilian casualties from cross-border violence between the two countries during 2026 and has called on both sides to protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law.