Pakistan has launched significant military operations against militant targets in neighboring Afghanistan, with security sources reporting more than 80 insurgents killed in overnight airstrikes. The offensive, confirmed by Pakistani security officials on Sunday, February 22, 2026, represents a substantial escalation in cross-border counterterrorism operations.
The strikes were characterized by Islamabad as a direct response to recent suicide bombings within Pakistani territory that authorities attribute to Afghanistan-based militant organizations. According to the security source who spoke with AFP, the casualty count is anticipated to rise as assessments continue.
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has historically denied allegations of harboring militant groups along the porous border region. AFP correspondents in Afghanistan noted the challenges in independently verifying the reported death toll due to the remote nature of the targeted areas and limited access to conflict zones.
This military action occurs amid deteriorating security relations between the two neighboring nations and raises concerns about potential regional destabilization. The cross-border operation marks one of the most significant publicly acknowledged incursions by Pakistani forces into Afghan airspace in recent years.
The development underscores the ongoing tensions in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, which remains a persistent security challenge despite decades of counterterrorism efforts. Both nations have historically accused each other of failing to control militant activities within their respective territories.