Afghanistan says 1,119 civilians killed or injured in Pakistan attacks

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesman for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Pakistan’s military attacks had killed or injured 1,119 civilians since the beginning of 2022. Most of those affected were women and children, he said.

Balkhi told CNN that the casualties included hundreds of people at a drug addiction treatment centre in Kabul.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the allegations in a statement issued on October 26. It said the military operations targeted armed groups and their logistics bases in Afghanistan, adding: “No responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted.”

Islamabad has accused Kabul of providing refuge to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Pakistan has also claimed that attacks launched from Afghan territory this year have affected more than 3,500 people in Pakistan.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on October 1 that more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries linked to cross-border violence had been recorded in Afghanistan in 2026.

On March 16, a Pakistani airstrike hit the Omid rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. The UN said at least 143 people were killed, while Pakistan denied targeting a medical facility.

“The Islamic Emirate has always supported resolving problems through dialogue and diplomacy,” Balkhi told AnewZ.

He rejected Pakistan’s allegations that Afghanistan provides shelter to armed groups, saying: “Pakistan’s security problems have existed for decades, and resolving them is Pakistan’s own responsibility.”