Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities say ten civilians, including nine children, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes overnight, in what Kabul describes as a grave cross-border escalation following a deadly suicide attack in Peshawar. The strikes reportedly targeted residential areas near the frontier region, prompting swift condemnation and fresh warnings about rising instability along one of the world’s most volatile borders.

According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, the victims were members of two families living close to the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. He accused Islamabad of launching the operation without provocation and warned that repeated cross-border actions would carry consequences for bilateral relations already strained by militancy and mutual distrust.

The strikes came less than 24 hours after a suicide bomber attacked a security facility in Peshawar, killing multiple personnel in an assault Pakistan says was coordinated from Afghan territory. Islamabad has long argued that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, maintains safe havens inside Afghanistan, an accusation the Taliban government continues to reject.

Pakistan’s military has not yet issued a formal statement about the latest air operations, although officials in Islamabad have increasingly signalled a willingness to take unilateral action against groups they deem a direct threat. Analysts say this pattern marks a shift toward more assertive cross-border responses, particularly as domestic pressure mounts over repeated attacks on security forces.

For Kabul, the incident underscores its frustration with Pakistan linking domestic insurgency to Afghan soil. Taliban officials insist they have curtailed extremist groups since taking power, but regional governments and Western intelligence assessments suggest militant networks remain active and difficult to control.

The escalation comes at a fragile moment. Diplomatic channels between the two neighbours have been inconsistent, trade routes have faced frequent disruptions, and border skirmishes have increased in both frequency and intensity. Humanitarian groups warn that repeated airstrikes and ground clashes in frontier communities expose civilians to disproportionate risk, especially children.

As both governments navigate their respective security crises, the latest civilian casualties risk inflaming public anger on both sides of the border. Whether the aftermath pushes Islamabad and Kabul back to dialogue or toward further confrontation will shape the stability of a region still grappling with long-running insurgencies, refugee flows, and deep political mistrust.