Pakistan Air Strikes Killed 70: Revenge Loading?

On 22nd February, 2026, Afghanistan’s skies were ablaze with the new sunrise…and more so, the fire of precise air strikes launched by the Pakistani Air Forces.

People awoke to cries and shrieks.

Ghastly images of dead bodies, bedraggled in blood, being dragged out from the pile of rubble…inhuman and heart-shaking.

It was indeed a bolt from the blue, as Pakistan did not give any such hints of military escalation.

The first strike was carried out on a Madrasa in Barmal, Paktika province.

One after the other strikes were done in Khogyani, Gahni khel and Behsud areas of the Nangarhar province.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting broke the news.

According to them, the Air Force targeted seven locations, mainly the Terrorist hideouts of Tahrike Taliban Pakistan.

Pakistan alleged that the Taliban nurtures such destructive elements.

They are offering a safe haven to these ‘terrorist organisations’, who are working tirelessly to disintegrate the country.

Its army was constrained to take such a step because “Afghanistan has long been exporting terrorism.”

This ‘retaliation’ is perceived as a reaction against the bomb blast incident at a Shia Masjid in Islamabad, a few days back, resulting in around 30 deaths.

That time, TTP (said to be under the patronage of the Taliban) took responsibility for these cowardly attacks. This incident was vehemently condemned by the world and even the Islamic countries.

Protest marches expressing grief and solidarity for the bereaved were carried out in India's very own Jammu and Kashmir. Indeed, it was an ‘attack on humanity.’

Notwithstanding several attempts from the Pakistani government to urge and pressurize Taliban government to take concrete steps against destabilising forces, nothing really happened.

Hence, the Pakistani army sent a strong return message.

Taliban, on the other hand, denied and dismissed such allegations and holds Pakistan responsible for their own ‘internal failure’.

According to their latest claim from Islamabad, the precision attacks have killed 70 such terrorists.

Pakistan clearly said its sole target was the terrorists and not the common Afghan people.

Statements, fired back instantly from Kabul.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that these attacks were made on innocent civilians, which constitutes women and children.

Hence, they clearly consider it an attempt to challenge the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

This passing and backpassing of allegations makes the situation smoky.

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So who is the guilty party here? Who is right and who is wrong?

It’s unclear.

However, simmering hatred and boiling tensions between the two nations are cooking up, thats for sure.

Now it’s the Taliban’s turn.

They vowed a ‘measured response’ at the ‘right moment.’

The entire world knows the Taliban’s promises are as stable as dollars. When they say, they do. Walking back is not in their dictionary.

Serious concerns for Pakistan. They are definitely in active mode to thwart any such attempts. So what next? Time will tell.