Pakistani Airstrikes in Helmand and Kunar Kill 9 Civilians

DID Press: Local sources say Pakistani fighter jets targeted residential areas in Garmser district of Helmand and Shaltan district of Kunar early Thursday, killing at least nine civilians and injuring nine others. Women and children are reportedly among the casualties.

According to the press office of the Helmand provincial authorities, Pakistani fighter jets bombed the Safar area of Garmser district at around 3:30 a.m., with four bombs hitting two residential homes. Four civilians were killed and six others wounded in the attack, while three children were reported missing.

At the same time, local sources reported an airstrike on the Chogan area of Shaltan district in Kunar. According to reports, five civilians were killed and three others wounded in the attack, with women and children among the casualties.

The attacks were reported as the United Nations has documented rising civilian casualties from Afghanistan-Pakistan border violence and called on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians. UNAMA previously confirmed that cross-border violence had caused more than 1,100 civilian casualties in Afghanistan during 2026.

Pakistan generally says its strikes inside Afghanistan target positions of armed groups, particularly the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Taliban officials have rejected these claims and described the attacks as violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty. Pakistan’s latest statement said its strikes targeted militant hideouts and claimed 22 militants were killed, while AP reported that neither side’s casualty claims had been independently verified.