New Delhi, February 23: In a tragic escalation of violence, 26 Pashtuns lost their lives within 48 hours due to attacks by Pakistani security agencies. On the nights of February 20 and 21, Pakistan conducted cross-border airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.
Islamabad claimed that the strikes targeted positions of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, local Afghan authorities and independent sources reported that the attacks struck a residential area in the Bisood district of Nangarhar. Reports indicate that 17 civilians were killed, including 11 children and several women.
Credible defense sources noted that images from the scene did not show any alleged terrorist camps. Instead, many homes were destroyed, and the bodies of children wrapped in shrouds were visible. Within a day of the airstrikes, violence crossed back into Pakistan along the Durand Line. Mortar shells fell on a civilian vehicle in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, killing five Pashtuns, including two children. Angered by the killings, locals protested outside a nearby military post.
Witnesses reported that in response, Pakistani security forces opened fire on the demonstrators. This resulted in the deaths of four additional Pashtuns and left five others injured. In less than 48 hours, a total of 26 Pashtuns were killed across both countries, marking a tragic beginning to this series of events.
Since January 2025, over 168 Pashtuns have reportedly been killed in anti-terror operations in Pakistan, including women and children. Between September 2025 and February 2026, at least 88 Pashtun civilians died in Pakistani attacks in Afghanistan. Observers note a clear pattern: most casualties are ordinary civilians, each incident occurs in Pashtun-majority areas, and these actions are labeled as anti-terror operations.
Targets of these attacks often include residential homes, civilian vehicles, public spaces in villages, and protest sites. The TTP primarily operates in Pashtun regions, and many of its fighters are Pashtuns themselves. Pakistani security agencies argue that militant networks receive local support. However, independent critics claim this rationale has become increasingly dangerous. The Pakistani military often makes assumptions based on suspicion, leading to predetermined targets and collective punishment of communities.
Defense sources indicate that entire villages are declared “operational zones.” Homes are demolished based on alleged affiliations, and mortar and drone strikes are carried out in residential areas. Those who protest are treated as enemies. Analysts suggest that if anti-terror strategies continue to transform a specific ethnic group’s civilian life into a battlefield, the line between security measures and ethnic profiling becomes blurred.
Experts point out that since 1947, the military and strategic command structure in Pakistan has been dominated by a Punjab-based elite. Pashtuns report heavy military deployments in their regions, with repeated curfews, checkpoints, enforced disappearances, home demolitions, and frequent bombings.
Some groups view these incidents as structural oppression. In the events of February 20 and 21, 26 Pashtuns were killed under different flags in two countries. Experts caution against jumping to conclusions, but the perception is growing among Pashtuns that instead of being protected, their entire region is viewed with suspicion.
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