In a sharp escalation of regional tensions, the Pakistani Air Force carried out overnight airstrikes across eastern Afghanistan, triggering heavy casualties and intensifying diplomatic hostilities between the two neighbours.

The strikes reportedly began late Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday, targeting areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.

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Islamabad Calls It ‘Intelligence-Based Operation’

Officials in Pakistan described the action as a series of precision strikes aimed at militant hideouts. According to Islamabad, the operation targeted camps linked to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-K, groups Pakistan accuses of orchestrating recent deadly attacks within its territory.

Pakistan’s Information Ministry claimed there was “conclusive evidence” that militants operating from Afghan soil were behind recent suicide bombings, including a major assault on a mosque in Islamabad.

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Civilian Casualties Reported in Nangarhar

However, reports emerging from Nangarhar Province paint a far more devastating picture. In the Behsud district, a residential home was allegedly struck by a missile, resulting in catastrophic civilian losses.

Local media outlet TOLOnews reported that as many as 23 members of a single family were trapped under the rubble after the structure collapsed. Rescue teams, working through the night with bulldozers and bare hands, managed to pull out only four survivors. The remaining family members are feared dead.

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Strike on Religious Seminary in Paktika

Additional airstrikes were reported in Paktika Province, including one that allegedly hit a religious seminary (madrassa) in the Bermal district. Local sources claim dozens may have been killed, although independent confirmation of the casualty figures remains pending.

The reported targeting of civilian and religious sites has further inflamed tensions.

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Taliban Condemns ‘Violation of Sovereignty’

The Taliban administration in Kabul issued a strong condemnation of the strikes. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid described the air raids as “atrocities” and a direct violation of Afghan sovereignty.

Kabul has vowed a “calculated response,” raising fears of potential cross-border retaliation and an expanded military confrontation.

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Rising Tensions Along the Durand Line

Military reinforcements have reportedly been deployed along the Durand Line, the disputed border separating the two countries. Analysts warn that continued escalation could spiral into a broader border conflict.

For civilians living near the frontier, the long-running shadow conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has now erupted into open and deadly confrontation.

As diplomatic channels strain and military postures harden, the international community is closely monitoring developments, concerned that the crisis could destabilize an already volatile region.