Pakistan’s Airstrikes on Afghanistan Raise Risk of Wider Regional Escalation

2026, September 25

Pakistan / Afghanistan

Pakistan said it carried out airstrikes on sites in Afghanistan that it claimed were used to launch drone attacks against Pakistan. Afghan authorities said the strikes killed civilians and condemned them as an attack on Afghan territory, warning that the operation would draw a response.

The incident marks a sharp deterioration in relations between the neighbouring countries and could complicate efforts by regional governments to mediate. Pakistan has repeatedly accused militants based in Afghanistan of conducting attacks across the border, while Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities deny allowing its territory to be used for such operations.