Pakistan claims 70 militants killed in strikes along Afghan border

DW News · Feb 22, 2026 · Collected from RSS

Full Article

Pakistan said Sunday it had carried out strikes against multiple militant hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. At least 70 militants were killed in the strikes, Pakistan deputy interior minister Talal Chaudhry told Geo News, without providing evidence for his claim. Pakistan's state-run media reported later on Sunday that the toll from the strikes had risen to 80 militants. The spokesperson of the Taliban regime in Kabul, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement on social media platform X that the attacks "killed and wounded dozens, including women and children." He called Pakistan's claim of killing 70 militants "inaccurate." Islamabad did not say precisely which areas it targeted or provide additional details. The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement that "various civilian areas" in the provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika in eastern Afghanistan were hit, including a religious madrassa and multiple civilian homes. The ministry deemed the strikes a "violation of Afghanistan's airspace by the Pakistani military regime." What did Pakistan say about the strikes? Pakistan "has carried out intelligence-based selective targeting of seven Terrorist camps and hideouts," a statement by the country's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said.It noted that the camps belonged to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and its affiliates. Pakistan said the strikes were carried out in response to recent security incidents in the country, including asuicide blast at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad two weeks ago and other more recent suicide bombings in northwest Pakistan. The mosque bombing killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 160. It was the deadliest attack in Pakistan's capital since the 2008 Marriott hotel bombing. An affiliate of the so-called "Islamic State" group had claimed responsibility for the bombing. After the latest suicide bombings, Pakistan's military warned that it would not "exercise any restraint” and that operations against those responsible would continue "irrespective of their location."The suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 160Image: Anjum Naveed/AP Photo/picture alliance What's behind tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan? Pakistan has seen a surge in militant violence in recent years. Islamabad blames Afghan-based elements for the attacks and has accused the Taliban of allowing Afghan soil to be used to harbor militants. Pakistan wants Kabul to clamp down on the TTP, which is a separate group but closely linked to the Afghan Taliban. The TTP seeks to impose a hard-line interpretation of Islam, particularly on Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. According to Pakistan's government, the group operates from Afghan soil with impunity. The Afghan Taliban deny the allegations and say they cannot be held accountable for security incidents inside Pakistan.Why Pakistan is fighting the Taliban it once backedTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fierce fighting erupted between the Pakistani military and Afghan Taliban forces last October, marking the deadliest conflict between the neighbors since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. The clashes killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Relations between the neighboring countries have remained tense ever since. Edited by: Kieran Burke