Pakistan conducts airstrikes in Afghanistan following deadly police compound assault

Airstrikes across the border

Early on Monday, 21 September 2026, Pakistani aircraft carried out airstrikes against targets in northeastern and eastern Afghanistan, ending nearly three months of relative calm along the frontier. Pakistan's Information Ministry stated that the operation struck three targets, killing 28 militants and suicide bombers. Afghan authorities reported conflicting casualty figures, stating that the bombardments struck civilian locations in Kunar and Paktika provinces. In Kunar's Nurgal district, strikes at around 3:00 am local time destroyed a residential home, killing three family members (one woman and two men) and injuring four others. In Paktika's Barmal district, two locations were bombed, destroying a shop and an unoccupied building without causing casualties. Kunar police spokesperson Farid Dehqan and Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat both condemned the strikes as attacks on civilian homes.

“Last night, the invading Pakistani army bombarded civilian areas of Afghanistan. In Kunar, one woman and two men died, and two women and two men were injured; they were all local residents.”

Preceding assaults in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The aerial operation followed two separate deadly attacks against Pakistani security personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late last week. On Thursday, a firefight with militants in Hangu district killed six Pakistani security officers, including two military officers. On Friday, an attack struck the district police headquarters compound in Kohat, leaving between 21 and 31 people dead (including 15 to 16 police officers) and more than 100 injured. The Kohat incident began with a suicide bombing at an on-site mosque before eight armed men stormed the compound, triggering a 20-hour gun battle with law enforcement. A militant faction called Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen, linked to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and commanded by warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the assault.

Escalating cross-border dispute

The confrontation stems from long-standing accusations by Islamabad that Kabul harbours militant groups carrying out cross-border attacks inside Pakistani territory. Afghanistan's Taliban administration denies sheltering armed factions, asserting that the violence is an internal Pakistani problem. On Saturday, Pakistan's Information Ministry called on Kabul to take verifiable action to dismantle militant recruitment and training infrastructure on Afghan soil. Cross-border friction intensified in February 2026, when heavy clashes prompted Pakistan to declare an open war with Afghanistan. In March 2026, a Pakistani airstrike on Kabul killed more than 400 people; Afghan officials stated that the strike hit a drug rehabilitation centre, while Islamabad maintained it hit militant support facilities. Deadly strikes occurred again in June 2026 before the three-month lull that ended with Monday's raids.

Divergence in military hardware

The cross-border engagements take place amidst a significant asymmetry between the armed forces of the two neighbouring states. According to figures from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Pakistan operates 422 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters. Afghanistan operates no fighter jets, maintaining an air inventory that includes at least six aircraft and 23 helicopters. Kabul previously launched drones against Pakistan in July 2026, which Pakistani forces reported intercepting and shooting down. Following the Monday strikes, Afghan government officials stated that Kabul would deliver an appropriate response to the Pakistani military operation.

Pakistan combat aircraft422

Afghanistan combat aircraft0

Afghanistan helicopters23

Afghanistan other aircraft6

Pakistan combat aircraft

422 aircraft

Afghanistan combat aircraft

0 aircraft

Afghanistan helicopters

23 aircraft

Afghanistan other aircraft

6 aircraft

Data from the article text