SECURITY — March 13, 2026

Pakistani Airstrikes Kill at Least Four Civilians in Kabul, Afghan Officials Say

Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan provinces including Kabul killed at least four civilians and wounded others, according to Taliban officials and UNAMA, prompting condemnations from former President Karzai and vows of response from the Islamic Emirate. Afghan forces reportedly struck back at Pakistani military targets in Kohat.

The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Bakhtar News — corroborated by Ariana News, Hasht-e Subh, Pajhwok and 5 more2 min read

Pakistani Airstrikes Kill at Least Four Civilians in Kabul, Afghan Officials Say
Image courtesy Bakhtar News

Pakistani airstrikes targeted civilian areas in Kabul's 21st district overnight, killing four civilians and wounding 25 others, according to Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Fitrat said four houses were completely destroyed in passages 23 and 24.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported four civilian deaths and 14 injuries, including women and children, in Kabul's Pul-e-Charkhi area from the strikes.

Additional strikes hit provinces including Kandahar, Paktika, Paktia, Nangarhar and Khost, Afghan officials said. In Kandahar, a fuel storage facility of Kam Air airline was targeted, according to Fitrat and Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate. A mortar strike in Nangarhar's Momand Dara district killed a woman and a child, per Nangarhar police and Fitrat.

Mujahid condemned the attacks by "Pakistan's military regime" as a continuation of past aggressions, stating they would not go unanswered. The Islamic Emirate's Ministry of Defense said Afghan forces responded by striking military sites in Pakistan's Kohat area, destroying facilities and inflicting losses.

Former President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the strikes on Kabul, Kandahar, Paktika and Paktia as violations of sovereignty, international law and neighborly principles, urging Pakistan to pursue dialogue. Residents in Paktia and Nangarhar decried the attacks as oppression against civilians during Ramadan.

UNAMA warned that escalating cross-border violence risks more civilian casualties, particularly among women and children.

Read the original reporting at Bakhtar News

Reliability assessment

Core event of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul killing at least four civilians corroborated by 9 independent outlets, named Taliban deputy spokesman Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat (4 killed, 25 wounded), and UNAMA (4 killed, 14 injured); minor discrepancies in injury figures do not undermine confirmation.

The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Amu TV: "woman-hating model" (زنستیزانه), "institutionalized discrimination" (نظام نهادینه‌شده تبعیض), "suppression of women" (سرکوب زنان) – these phrases employ emotional framing, advocacy language, and value judgments to portray Taliban actions negatively.; Bakhtar News: "military regime of Pakistan" (repeated derogatory label implying illegitimacy); "martyrs" (religious/emotional framing for civilian deaths elevating them heroically).; RTA: "tyrannical aggression", "oppression", "past crimes", "military regime" – these phrases employ emotionally loaded, judgmental language to negatively frame Pakistan's actions and portray them as immoral violations.; ToloNews: "Pakistan's military regime" (repeatedly frames Pakistan's government as illegitimate and militaristic); "great oppression" and "savage oppression" (quotes from residents using strong emotional advocacy language); "cowardly act" (from former ambassador, presenting opinion as condemnation).

Across the newsrooms

Filed under

SecurityPakistan airstrikes, Taliban, Kabul, Hamid Karzai, UNAMA

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