The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has confirmed that 13 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, matching casualty figures earlier reported by Afghan authorities.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, UNAMA said it had documented 13 civilian deaths and 10 injuries resulting from airstrikes carried out overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday in the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika.
The UN mission said the casualties were mainly children and women and renewed its call for de-escalation, a durable ceasefire, protection of civilians, reopening of border crossings for humanitarian assistance and dialogue to resolve differences between the two neighboring countries.
The strikes ended nearly a month of relative calm between Pakistan and Afghanistan, whose border conflict has continued despite repeated international mediation efforts.
Pakistan had earlier rejected claims made by Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid that the attacks killed 13 civilians, dismissing the allegations as propaganda.
The border between the two countries has remained closed for months, disrupting trade and transport and leaving thousands stranded.
Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified since February, when Afghan forces reportedly carried out retaliatory attacks following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Hundreds of people have been killed in the violence, while multiple rounds of peace talks have failed to secure a lasting truce.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants responsible for attacks inside its territory, particularly members of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Kabul has denied the allegations.
At a weekly briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the latest airstrikes targeted militant camps and hideouts along the border.
He said the operation was launched in response to a series of recent militant attacks inside Pakistan and was based on credible intelligence.
According to Andrabi, the strikes specifically targeted hideouts of militants referred to by Pakistan as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” a term used by authorities for the Pakistani Taliban and allied groups.
He maintained that the operation was carried out with precision and that Pakistan would continue military actions against militant sanctuaries to protect national security.
Asked about the UN report on civilian casualties, Andrabi said the government would review its findings but questioned the methodology used to determine the casualty figures, insisting that the strikes were directed solely at militant targets.