Civilian Casualties Rise in Kabul and Kandahar as Pakistan Targets Strategic Fuel Infrastructure and Residential Zones

Pakistani airstrikes kill civilians in Kabul and destroy a fuel depot in Kandahar. Read about the escalating conflict and the Afghan drone response.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 10:09 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Reuters

Nighttime Aerial Assault on the Afghan Capital

The outskirts of Kabul were rocked by midnight explosions on Friday as Pakistani jets carried out strikes that residents reported hit purely civilian neighborhoods. In District 21 and the Pul-e-Charkhi area, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that at least four civilians were killed and 14 others injured, including women and children. Survivors described a scene of chaos where dust and smoke filled homes, blowing out windows and collapsing walls in areas that locals assert contain no military or government facilities.

Strategic Strike on Civil Aviation Fuel Supplies

In a move that threatens to paralyze regional logistics, Pakistani forces bombed a major fuel depot belonging to Kam Air, a private Afghan airline, located near the Kandahar airport. Afghan administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that this facility is vital not only for commercial flights but also for United Nations aircraft operating in the territory. By targeting this "terrorist support infrastructure," as described by Islamabad, Pakistan has effectively endangered the supply chain for humanitarian and diplomatic transport across the country.

Official Justification and Operation Ghazb lil Haq

Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, confirmed the strikes were part of a coordinated military campaign dubbed "Ghazb lil Haq." He maintained that the operation is strictly aimed at militant camps and infrastructure in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar. Despite reports from the UN and local medical officials, the Pakistani government denied targeting civilian populations, insisting that the dozens of sites struck were legitimate targets involved in cross-border militancy.