Pakistan claims at least 70 fighters killed in strikes along Afghan border

Afghan officials deny claims, as they accuse Pakistan of targeting civilians and violating its sovereignty in Sunday’s border air raids.Published On 23 Feb 2026A senior Pakistani government official has claimed that its military killed at least 70 fighters in air raids along the border with Afghanistan, claims Kabul has denied, amid escalating tensions between the two South Asian neighbours.Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s deputy interior minister, offered no evidence for his claim in an interview with Geo News on Sunday evening that at least 70 rebels were killed in the attack. Pakistan’s state media reported that the death toll had jumped to 80; however, there was no official confirmation.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Suicide bombing at wedding in northwest Pakistan kills sevenlist 2 of 3At least 33 dead in coordinated attacks by alleged separatists in Pakistanlist 3 of 3Pakistan can sell weapons in the Middle East, but can it sell security?end of listPakistan’s military carried out the air raids early on Sunday, targeting what it called “camps and hideouts” belonging to armed groups behind a spate of recent attacks, including a deadly suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in the capital, Islamabad.The country’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X that the military conducted “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps belonging to the Pakistan Taliban group, known by the acronym TTP, and its affiliates.Taliban security personnel and residents search for victims after overnight Pakistani air raids on a residential area in Girdi Kas village in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, on February 22, 2026 [AFP]Tarar said Pakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region”, but added that the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remained a top priority.President Asif Ali Zardari said late on Sunday that Pakistan’s recent attacks along the Afghan border were “rooted in [its] inherent right to defend its people against terrorism” after repeated warnings to Kabul went unheeded.