Pakistan Airstrikes in Afghanistan Kill Several; Seven TTP Camps Targeted in Retaliation for Suicide Attacks

February 22, 2026

The Pakistani military carried out airstrikes in Afghan border regions early Sunday, targeting alleged militant hideouts. According to Al Jazeera, Pakistan claimed that seven camps linked to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State were struck. Several people were reportedly killed.

Pakistan described the operation as a retaliatory, intelligence-based strike following recent suicide attacks. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said there was strong evidence that attackers were operating from Afghan soil.

There has been no immediate official response from Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

Suicide Attacks Spark Retaliation

Hours before the airstrikes, a suicide bombing targeted a security convoy in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.

On Monday, another attack occurred when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a security checkpoint in Bajaur, killing 11 soldiers and a child. Officials described the attacker as an Afghan national.

Earlier, on February 6, a suicide bombing struck a Shia mosque (Imambara) in Islamabad during Friday prayers. According to Dawn, 31 people were killed and 169 injured. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

Afghan sources have reported a drone strike on a religious school in Paktika and operations in Nangarhar province, though no official confirmation has been issued by Kabul.

Pakistan Urges Pressure on Taliban Under Doha Agreement

Islamabad has called on the international community to pressure the Taliban to uphold commitments made under the 2020 Doha Agreement.

Signed on February 29, 2020, in Doha, Qatar, the agreement between the United States and the Taliban aimed to end the war in Afghanistan and facilitate the withdrawal of US troops. The Taliban pledged not to allow Afghan territory to be used by any group threatening the security of the US and its allies, including severing ties with al-Qaeda and other extremist organizations.

Following the agreement, US forces withdrew in 2021, after which the Taliban rapidly took control of Kabul.

Pakistan maintains that the TTP operates from Afghan territory — an allegation the Taliban denies.

Border Tensions and Failed Talks

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since deadly border clashes in October. A ceasefire brokered by Qatar on October 19 temporarily reduced tensions, but subsequent negotiations in Istanbul failed to produce a formal agreement.

Earlier in October, airstrikes reportedly targeted TTP positions in Kabul. While Pakistan did not officially confirm responsibility, it warned the Taliban against sheltering TTP militants.

TTP: Pakistan’s Biggest Security Threat

Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, the TTP has intensified its insurgency against Pakistani security forces. The group is considered Pakistan’s most significant militant threat over the past decade.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, terrorist attacks have reached their highest level since 2015, with the TTP identified as the primary perpetrator. Pakistan now ranks among the countries most affected by terrorism, according to the Global Terrorism Index.

Pakistan alleges that TTP fighters receive training and sanctuary across the Afghan border before launching attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban, however, denies providing support to the group.

Why Pakistan and TTP Are in Conflict

The roots of the conflict trace back to 2001, when Pakistan supported the United States following the invasion of Afghanistan. The TTP opposed Islamabad’s alliance with Washington and considers the Pakistani government un-Islamic.

The TTP shares ideological and historical ties with the Afghan Taliban. Since 2021, Pakistan has conducted cross-border operations targeting TTP militants, further escalating tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

With violence rising and diplomatic channels strained, the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remains volatile.