Further information indicates that the strikes caused damage to residential structures in Nangarhar’s Shinwari district, where survivors described pulling children and a woman from the rubble. Nangarhar’s deputy governor asserted that Pakistani drones conducted the attacks, though no official comment was offered by Pakistani authorities.
Military tensions have escalated between the two neighbours, particularly over Pakistan’s persistent accusations that the Taliban government shelters members of the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan and its splinter groups. These accusations have underscored a pattern of cross‑border operations dating back to late 2024, when air strikes in Paktika province reportedly destroyed militant facilities—while the Taliban authorities claimed civilians, including refugee families, were harmed.
Analysts interpret the current strikes as a continuation of Pakistan’s hybrid coercion strategy, using calculated military action to compel compliance from both the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban over militant sanctuaries. That approach was previously observed during December 2024 strikes in Khost and Paktika, intended to balance diplomatic engagement with forceful deterrence.
In Khost, the suspected targets include splinter factions such as the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, listed among banned organisations by Pakistan’s National Counter‑Terrorism Authority in early August. That listing coincided with other coordinated counter‑terrorism efforts, including operations within Pakistan’s borders where dozens of fighters were reported killed. The overlapping signals of crackdown and outreach reflect Islamabad’s complex strategy to pressure militants both militarily and diplomatically.
The Taliban, in turn, denies complicity in militant activities and insists its territory is not used against Pakistan. Despite this, cross-border clashes remain frequent, and both sides accuse the other of violating sovereignty. Earlier incidents—including skirmishes at the Chaman and Torkham crossings—underscore the fragility of peace along the Durand Line.
Civilians continue to bear the cost of these military escalations. In December 2024 strikes, Afghan officials reported dozens of civilian deaths—many women and children—though Pakistan countered that only militant hideouts were targeted. The recurring pattern of civilian harm compounds humanitarian concerns and amplifies international calls for restraint, even as Islamabad insists on the legitimacy of its defence posture.
Diplomatic overtures, such as trilateral discussions involving Pakistan, China and Afghanistan to bolster counter-terrorism cooperation, stand in sharp contrast to the intensifying air campaign. Observers note the paradox: while formal talks aim to build trust and enhance regional security, parallel kinetic actions risk undermining that very agenda.
Within Pakistan’s strategic calculus, these strikes serve both domestic and external signalling purposes. Internally, they reassure a public grappling with militant violence that the military remains committed to national security. Externally, they warn the Afghan Taliban of consequences for harbouring militants—even as Pakistan seeks to avoid a full-blown confrontation.
From Kabul’s perspective, each air raid reinforces narratives of infringement on sovereignty and fuels rhetoric stressing hostility. The summons of the ambassador is part of a diplomatic posture aimed at pushing back against what the Taliban perceives as aggressive incursions.