(https://www.lwjstage.com)  (https://cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com)     Pakistan conducts airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan in retaliation for terrorist attacks - FDD's Long War Journal                       Pakistan conducts airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan in retaliation for terrorist attacks - FDD's Long War Journal  (pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php.html)  (https://static.addtoany.com/)  (https://use.typekit.net/)  (FDD's Long War Journal » Feed) (https://www.longwarjournal.org/feed)  (FDD's Long War Journal » Comments Feed) (https://www.longwarjournal.org/comments/feed)  (oEmbed (JSON)) (https://www.longwarjournal.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.longwarjournal.org%2Farchives%2F2026%2F09%2Fpakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php)  (oEmbed (XML)) (https://www.longwarjournal.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.longwarjournal.org%2Farchives%2F2026%2F09%2Fpakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php&format=xml)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/wp-includes/blocks/navigation/03dbbd4ed2d106d4b3f596089762c82d.style.min.css)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/wp-includes/blocks/social-links/03dbbd4ed2d106d4b3f596089762c82d.style.min.css)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/wp-content/plugins/post-list-designer/assets/css/edb1e69c2c28dfb5b2f818a71e3710d7.bld-public.css)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/wp-content/plugins/vertical-tab-slider/css/03dbbd4ed2d106d4b3f596089762c82d.vtslider.css)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/wp-content/plugins/ttd-topics/public/css/2fa2728dbfa93969b73d80570ba902dd.ttd-topics-public.css)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/use.typekit.net/vlo7ifg.css)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/wp-content/themes/lwj-final-theme (1)/assets/css/088fbb7c102aa4693a21190dccce6e4f.main.css)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/d47ca5a9d12af147d736c83cf434abe2.addtoany.min.css)  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/wp-json/)  (JSON) (https://www.longwarjournal.org/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/127912)  (RSD) (https://www.longwarjournal.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd)  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/?p=127912)  (../../../../cdn-ilelhjd.nitrocdn.com/sIjAVWUHBRvPrlJXCHdtYIrbbBOnQsGe/assets/static/optimized/rev-622f359/www.longwarjournal.org/externalFontFace/nitro-noimport-a51e28e1dc2c57b4d4d636114f6d289a-stylesheet.css)     (https://www.longwarjournal.org) ()           (https://longwarjournal.org) Home   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/category/analysis) Categories     (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/category/analysis) Analysis   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/category/visuals) Visuals   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/category/news) News   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/category/generation-jihad) Podcast     (https://www.longwarjournal.org/about) About         Search () ()  Search       Pakistan conducts airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan in retaliation for terrorist attacks  Will Selber   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/category/news) News  September 21, 2026   ()  Pakistani Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons participate in the Red Flag 10-4 training exercise over the Nevada Test and Training Range in 2010. (T1 Steven Wolff, US Air Force)  On September 20, Pakistan (https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-carried-out-strikes-inside-afghanistan-95178c5833c7a6a621c9bb0f06a78915) conducted airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, reportedly targeting militants suspected of involvement in recent terrorist attacks in western Pakistan. Pakistan claimed that the strikes killed 28 fighters, while the Taliban (https://www.dw.com/en/taliban-says-three-killed-in-new-pakistan-airstrikes-on-afghanistan/a-79350604) said that only three civilians had been killed. The Pakistani government has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to militant groups that attack the Pakistani state. The dispute contributed to a series of (https://www.firstpost.com/world/pakistan-afghanistan-strikes-kunar-khost-paktika-toll-taliban-war-14020762.html) cross-border strikes throughout 2025 and 2026. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid (https://x.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/2101907028113535280) condemned the strikes on X and promised an “appropriate retaliation.” Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (https://x.com/MoIB_Official/status/2101964693174624273) said in a statement on X that the strikes were “calibrated” and conducted in response to terrorist activity in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ministry claimed that the operations targeted a suicide bombing center and a weapons and ammunition depot. The air strikes were retaliation for a complex attack (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/18/bomb-attack-at-pakistan-mosque-kills-at-least-15-injures-50) claimed by Ittehad ul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP) against a mosque inside a police compound in northwestern Pakistan. The assault began with a suicide car bombing on September 18 and continued into September 19, killing at least 31 people and (https://www.afintl.com/en/202609197340) injuring more than 100 others. The attack occurred in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province. The province borders Afghanistan and hosts numerous militant groups, including the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. After the suicide car bomb detonated during Friday prayers, at least seven gunmen attempted to (https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-mosque-bombing-northwest-pakistan-ebfc29859f724630e25f8549116859c8) storm the police compound, resulting in a 20-hour standoff. The complex is (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/09/19/pakistan-police-mosque-bombing-militant-attack-northwest/76ee9036-b3f5-11f1-92c2-5c918f4a6127_story.html) home to Pakistan’s Special Branch intelligence agency, the Counter Terrorism Department, and other units responsible for combating militants in the restive border region. The complex attack occurred one day after an improvised explosive device (https://www.wral.com/news/ap/d8fc9-roadside-bomb-kills-6-soldiers-in-pakistan-as-troops-kill-10-militants-in-multiple-raids/) detonated near a Pakistani security convoy in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing six soldiers. The soldiers had been conducting operations against the TTP. IMP, (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/19/world/asia/pakistan-mosque-attack-bahadur.html) led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, is a militant alliance (https://jamestown.org/rise-and-growing-threat-of-ittehad-ul-mujahideen-pakistan/) formed in 2025 by factions that broke away from the TTP. The United Nations recently (https://docs.un.org/en/S/2026/651) reported that Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) “formed the backbone” of IMP. In response to the attack, AQIS did not condemn IMP or its assault on the police compound. Instead, it criticized the decision to target the mosque, (https://x.com/DefenceNewsOfIN/status/2101263563947954590) stating that places of worship should not be attacked. Before this weekend’s assault, IMP’s last major publicly reported attack was an early May car bombing against a police post in Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for which the group (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/9/three-police-officers-killed-in-car-bomb-attack-in-northwest-pakistan) claimed responsibility. Bahadur has longstanding ties to the Afghan Taliban and previously conducted and facilitated cross-border attacks against US and coalition forces in Afghanistan. He has (https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/the-survivalist-of-north-waziristan-hafiz-gul-bahadur-biography-and-analysis) survived American drone strikes against his network, Pakistani military operations, and rivalries with other militant factions. The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry (https://thekabultribune.com/en/0011238) condemned the attack, describing assaults against mosques and other places of worship as “unjustifiable and condemnable.” Mujahid also (https://www.afintl.com/en/202609183248) warned Pakistan against conducting military operations inside Afghanistan, (https://x.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/2101010291102237003) stating that “Pakistan should not attribute its internal situation to Afghanistan.”  Both Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban face mounting security threats within their respective borders. Pakistan confronts attacks from the TTP and IMP, as well as an (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/25/train-bomb-in-pakistans-baloch-region-why-violence-is-on-the-rise) increasingly capable Baloch insurgency along its border with Iran. The Taliban, meanwhile, (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/20/isil-claims-kabul-attack-on-chinese-restaurant-that-killed-7-people) faces continued attacks from the Islamic State and a (https://www.afintl.com/en/202609169775) growing tempo of operations by anti-Taliban resistance groups. Although neither side benefits from further escalation, the Taliban will likely retaliate unless (https://www.firstpost.com/world/china-seeks-to-revive-urumqi-peace-process-as-pakistan-afghanistan-tensions-rise-14042567.html) China or (https://www.afintl.com/en/202609193242) other regional intermediaries can reduce the immediate tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. Even if they succeed, mediation will not resolve the underlying dispute over militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan, making further cross-border violence increasingly likely.  Will Selber is a retired US CENTCOM foreign area officer with over 4 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the owner of Grumpy Combat Veteran on Substack. (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/afghanistan) Afghanistan ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/al-qaeda) Al Qaeda ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/imp) IMP ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/ittehad-ul-mujahideen-pakistan) Ittehad ul Mujahideen Pakistan ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/pakistan) Pakistan ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/pakistan-afghanistan) Pakistan-Afghanistan ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/pakistan-taliban) Pakistan-Taliban ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/taliban) Taliban ,  (https://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/ttp) ttp   Related Posts (pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php.html) (Pakistan conducts airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan in retaliation for terrorist attacks)     (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/author/selber-will) Will Selber    (pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php.html) Sep 21, 2026    (pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php.html) Pakistan conducts airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan in retaliation for terrorist attacks    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/yazidi-armed-group-ybs-to-disarm-integrate-into-iraqi-security-forces.php) (Yazidi armed group YBS to disarm, integrate into Iraqi security forces)     (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/author/seth-frantzman) Seth Frantzman    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/yazidi-armed-group-ybs-to-disarm-integrate-into-iraqi-security-forces.php) Sep 18, 2026    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/yazidi-armed-group-ybs-to-disarm-integrate-into-iraqi-security-forces.php) Yazidi armed group YBS to disarm, integrate into Iraqi security forces    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/is-hezbollah-finished-or-just-adapting.php) (Is Hezbollah finished, or just adapting?)     (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/author/the-lwj-editors) The LWJ Editors    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/is-hezbollah-finished-or-just-adapting.php) Sep 18, 2026    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/is-hezbollah-finished-or-just-adapting.php) Is Hezbollah finished, or just adapting?    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/how-hezbollah-reframed-the-battle-for-ali-al-taher-as-israel-advanced.php) (How Hezbollah reframed the battle for Ali al Taher as Israel advanced)     (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/author/daoud-david) David Daoud    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/how-hezbollah-reframed-the-battle-for-ali-al-taher-as-israel-advanced.php) Sep 18, 2026    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/09/how-hezbollah-reframed-the-battle-for-ali-al-taher-as-israel-advanced.php) How Hezbollah reframed the battle for Ali al Taher as Israel advanced        (https://www.lwjstage.com/tags/generation-jihad) View All Podcasts    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/09/profiles-of-28-iran-backed-terrorist-groups-and-branches-in-the-west-bank.php) (Interactive visual: Profiles of 28 Iran-backed terrorist groups and branches in the West Bank)    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/09/profiles-of-28-iran-backed-terrorist-groups-and-branches-in-the-west-bank.php) Interactive visual: Profiles of 28 Iran-backed terrorist groups and branches in the West Bank   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/10/profiles-of-15-iranian-backed-militias-in-the-middle-east.php) (Profiles of 15 Iranian-backed Militias in the Middle East)    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/10/profiles-of-15-iranian-backed-militias-in-the-middle-east.php) Profiles of 15 Iranian-backed Militias in the Middle East   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/03/shabaab-leadership.php) (Detailing Shabaab’s Leadership and Key Personnel)    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/03/shabaab-leadership.php) Detailing Shabaab’s Leadership and Key Personnel   (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2022/12/al-qaeda-leaders-use-afghanistan-as-a-safe-haven.php) (Al Qaeda leaders use Afghanistan as a safe haven)    (https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2022/12/al-qaeda-leaders-use-afghanistan-as-a-safe-haven.php) Al Qaeda leaders use Afghanistan as a safe haven     (https://longwarstg.wpenginepowered.com/archives/category/visuals) View All Visuals       (FDD's Long War Journal)    FDD’s Long War Journal  provides accurate reporting and analysis of ongoing efforts to address jihadism, conflicts between state and non-state actors, and warfare between states. This is accomplished through original reporting, including by embedded reporters, news aggregation, maps, podcasts, and other formats. (https://instagram.com)   Instagram   (https://x.com)   X   (https://linkedin.com)   LinkedIn   (https://youtube.com)   YouTube      © 2025 Long War Journal. All rights reserved. (pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php.html#) Privacy Policy   (pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php.html#) Terms & Conditions  (pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-in-eastern-afghanistan-in-retaliation-for-terrorist-attacks.php.html#) Cookies Policy