Pakistan Airstrikes In Afghanistan Target Ttp Hideouts, Escalate Tensions

On February 22, 2026, Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province, targeting a religious seminary and alleged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts. Reports indicate that at least 18 people were killed and several others injured, with Pakistani sources claiming that 28 TTP fighters were also killed in the strikes. The Pakistani military justified these actions as a 'retributive response' to recent suicide bombings in Pakistan. According to ANI News, these airstrikes were part of a broader strategy to disrupt cross-border militant activities, with strikes reported in multiple districts including Khogyani and Argun. The strikes have raised concerns about escalating tensions in the region, as local residents reported that Taliban forces surrounded several areas following the attacks, leading to a media access restriction in Afghanistan (BOL News).