The United Nations said on Friday that the escalation in border confrontations between Afghan forces and the Pakistani army a week ago led to the killing of 56 Afghan civilians, including 24 children and six women. The international organization called on all parties to put an end to the conflict and help the victims.

Published on: 03/06/2026 - 12:33 Last updated: 03/06/2026 - 13:55

Fifty-six civilians, including 24 children, have been killed since border clashes escalated between Afghan forces and the Pakistani army last week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Friday.

In a statement, the UN official called on “all parties to put an end to the conflict and give priority to helping those severely affected.”

Battles have been taking place on the border between the two neighboring countries since February 26, when Afghanistan launched a border attack in response to a Pakistani aerial bombardment. Islamabad responded with attacks on the border and with aerial bombardments targeting several sites, including the former US Bagram Air Base, the capital, Kabul, and the city of Kandahar, located in the south.

Since the escalation of the military confrontations, “56 civilians have been killed, including 24 children and six women,” according to Turk, who added: “129 people have been injured, including 41 children and 31 women.”

Since the beginning of the year, the number of civilian deaths on the Afghan side has reached 69, in addition to 141 wounded, he said.

Pakistan confirms that it did not kill any civilians in the conflict. It is difficult to independently verify human casualty figures on both sides.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also said Thursday that about 115,000 Afghans and three thousand people in Pakistan were displaced as a result of the fighting during the past week.

According to Türk: “Civilians on both sides of the border are now forced to flee aerial bombardment, heavy artillery and mortar fire, and gunfire.”

In light of this situation, the High Commissioner expressed his regret that the new wave of violence is affecting people who have “long suffered violence and misery.” Turk pointed out that more than two million Afghans have returned to their country since Pakistan began implementing the “Repatriation Plan for Irregular Foreigners” in September 2023.

Almost a similar number are believed to remain in Pakistan, “where many face difficulties and constant fear of arrest and deportation,” he said. “Due to acts of violence, humanitarian aid does not reach many of those who are in dire need of it, which increases the suffering of those in need.”

Turk called on "the Pakistani army and de facto Afghan security forces to stop fighting immediately and give priority to providing aid to millions of people who depend on humanitarian aid."

France 24/AFP

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