In one of its most extensive cross-border military actions in years, Pakistan launched overnight airstrikes on seven militant camps and hideouts inside Afghanistan early on February 22, 2026. What Islamabad calls a “retributive response” to recent suicide bombings, Kabul is condemning as a war crime — and the fallout could reshape South Asia’s already fragile security landscape.

Pakistan Strikes Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Info
Date of Strikes	February 22, 2026 (overnight)
Sites Targeted	7 camps and hideouts
Provinces Hit	Nangarhar & Paktika, Afghanistan
Aircraft Used	F-16s & JF-17 Thunder jets
Targets	TTP (Pakistani Taliban) + ISIS-K affiliates
Afghan Civilian Deaths	17+ confirmed (incl. 12 children)
Pakistan’s Trigger	Islamabad mosque bombing (Feb 6) + Bajaur & Bannu attacks
Afghanistan’s Response	Condemned as breach of international law

What Happened — And Why Now?

The strikes came hours after a suicide bomber killed two Pakistani soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 21. Days earlier, 11 soldiers and a child were killed in a vehicle-borne suicide attack in Bajaur — the attacker identified as an Afghan national.

The final straw? A devastating February 6 bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 31 worshippers and wounded over 160, claimed by the Islamic State — the deadliest terror strike in the Pakistani capital since 2008.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated Islamabad had “conclusive evidence” that the attacks were directed by Afghan-based militant leadership, specifically citing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and IS affiliates. The military described the operation as “intelligence-based, selective targeting.”

Afghanistan’s Fury & The Human Cost

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence said the strikes hit a madrasa and residential homes, with women and children among the dozens killed and wounded. An AFP journalist on the ground in Nangarhar’s Bihsud district witnessed rescuers using a bulldozer to pull victims from rubble.

Kabul’s government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid minced no words, while the Afghan Defence Ministry vowed to deliver an “appropriate and calculated response,” warning Pakistan holds full responsibility for targeting civilians and religious sites.

This isn’t the first flashpoint. October 2025 border clashes killed over 70 people on both sides. A Qatar-and-Turkey-brokered ceasefire followed, but multiple rounds of talks in Doha and Istanbul have failed to secure a lasting agreement.

FAQs

Q1. Why did Pakistan strike Afghanistan in February 2026?

Pakistan launched strikes targeting TTP and ISIS-K hideouts in retaliation for a string of suicide attacks inside Pakistan, including the deadly Islamabad mosque bombing on February 6 that killed 31 people.

Q2. Did the strikes cause civilian casualties in Afghanistan?

Yes. Afghan authorities confirmed at least 17 deaths, including 12 children and teenagers, in the Bihsud district of Nangarhar province, calling the strikes a violation of international law.