Full Breakdown
Pakistan Launches Airstrikes on Ten Afghan Sites Amid Accusations of Drone Attacks
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Core Event – September 24 Airstrikes
On September 24, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the Pakistani air force struck ten locations in Afghanistan with “precision aerial and drone strikes” aimed at sites used to launch and store drones that Pakistan said had been employed against it a day earlier. The operations hit areas in the southeastern provinces of Kandahar, Paktia and Khost.
Background & Context
Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated since February 2026, when cross-border attacks and retaliatory strikes ended a months-long lull. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of providing sanctuary to Islamist militants—particularly the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—that launch attacks into Pakistani territory. The Taliban denies these claims, calling militancy a Pakistani internal problem. Earlier in September, Pakistani forces reported intercepting eight rudimentary drones launched from Afghan soil on September 23 and neutralising them before they could reach Pakistani targets.
Data & Statistics
- Targets: Ten sites across Kandahar, Paktia and Khost.
- Pakistani claim: 28 militants killed.
- Afghan claim: At least three civilians killed and four injured; UNAMA confirmed civilian casualties.
- Earlier incidents: On September 21, Pakistan said airstrikes in the border region killed at least 28 militants; Afghan officials reported three civilian deaths in those attacks.
Official Statements & Responses
- Afghan Taliban: Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the allegation that Taliban forces launched drones, calling the attacks “shameless acts of aggression” and vowing an “appropriate response.” He reported four civilian deaths in the southern and eastern provinces.
- United Nations: UNAMA confirmed civilian casualties from the September 24 strikes and noted that Kabul had formally protested the operation.
- Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, speaking at the UN General Assembly, expressed concern about more than two dozen anti-Pakistani militant groups operating from Afghanistan.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualty figures: Pakistan’s ministry reported 28 militants killed, while Afghan officials and UNAMA reported three civilian deaths and four injuries. No independent verification of the militant death toll has been provided.
- Drone origins: Pakistan claimed drones were launched from Afghan territory on September 23; the Taliban denied any such launches, stating the allegation could not be independently verified.
- Target locations: Pakistani statements identified ten sites; Afghan sources confirmed strikes in Kandahar, Paktia and Khost but did not disclose exact coordinates or the nature of the facilities targeted.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Instead of dismantling these networks and taking credible and verifiable action against those using Afghan territory to perpetrate terrorism against Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban regime has chosen to escalate the situation through hostile drone operations against Pakistan,” — Attaullah Tarar
- “In exercise of its sovereign right to self-defence, Pakistan conducted precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan used for launching and storing these drones,” — Attaullah Tarar
What’s Next
Regional mediators—including China, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia—have warned that the escalation threatens ongoing peace-building efforts. Both sides have signalled readiness for additional military responses if further incidents occur.