Four Civilians Killed as Pakistani Artillery and Mortar Shelling Targets Residential Zones in Four Eastern Afghan Provinces

Taliban officials report four civilians killed and nine wounded as Pakistani artillery strikes residential areas and clinics in Nuristan, Khost, Kunar, and Paktika.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 11:08 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Ahmad Azizi

Systemic Shelling Across the Eastern Frontier

The border conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban has intensified significantly over the last 24 hours, with heavy artillery and mortar fire striking civilian centers in four eastern Afghan provinces. Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat confirmed that residential areas in Nuristan, Khost, Kunar, and Paktika were hit multiple times, resulting in four deaths and at least nine injuries. This latest surge in kinetic activity targets several districts, including Kamdesh, Alisher, and Zazi Maidan, signaling a widening of the geographic scope of the Pakistani offensive. The use of heavy indirect fire against these populated zones marks one of the most volatile periods since the hostilities began in late February.

Fatalities Among Women and Children in Khost

The province of Khost has emerged as a primary flashpoint, bearing the brunt of the recent casualties. According to Fitrat, two children were killed and two others wounded during an evening strike in the Spera district on Sunday. Further shelling in the Gurbaz district claimed the lives of a woman and another child when a mortar shell struck the village of Nari. The targeted nature of these strikes on family dwellings has drawn sharp condemnation from Kabul, as the death toll among non-combatants continues to rise. Local authorities report that the frequency of the shelling has made daily life untenable for residents near the Durand Line.

Targeting of Public Infrastructure and Medical Facilities

The Pakistani military's operations have not been limited to residential blocks, with reports indicating that public infrastructure is increasingly caught in the crossfire. In the Zazi Maidan district, artillery rounds reportedly struck a market area and a central medical clinic, wounding four individuals, including two women. Two of those injured in the market strike are currently reported to be in critical condition. The destruction of medical and commercial hubs in these remote provinces severely hampers the local population's ability to access essential services during the ongoing 19-day conflict, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the border regions.