Casualties Reported as Pakistani Forces Breach Eid Ceasefire with Mortar Strikes in Kunar Province

One civilian killed and a woman injured as Pakistani mortar shells hit Kunar during a promised Eid ceasefire. Read the latest on the border escalation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 9:37 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Ariana News

A Lethal Violation of a Declared Truce

The fragile peace between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been shattered following reports of fresh military aggression along the border. According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Pakistani forces launched a mortar shell that struck the Shanpat area of the Nari district in Kunar province at approximately 9:30 am on Sunday. The strike resulted in the immediate death of one civilian, while a woman sustained serious injuries. This incident is particularly notable as it directly contradicts a prior announcement by the Pakistani government to halt all military operations against Afghanistan until Monday night in observance of the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.

Escalation Across Multiple Border Points

The mortar strike in Kunar was not an isolated event, as Afghan officials reported additional hostilities in the Shakin district of Paktika province. Fitrat stated that Pakistani forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle moving through the district later that same morning. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the Paktika incident, though the targeting of non-combatant transport has added to the narrative of a coordinated breach of the ceasefire. These back-to-back incidents suggest a breakdown in military command or a deliberate shift in policy despite the public commitment to a religious truce.

The Fragile State of Border Security

The Kunar and Paktika regions have long been flashpoints for cross-border skirmishes, but the timing of these latest attacks has drawn sharp condemnation from the Kabul administration. The Islamic Emirate has characterized the shelling of residential areas as a direct provocation that undermines regional stability. By targeting Nari and Shakin—areas with significant civilian populations—the Pakistani military is accused of disregarding the safety of those celebrating the end of the holy month. These violations have placed Afghan border units on high alert, threatening to dissolve the temporary ceasefire into a renewed cycle of retaliatory violence.