UN Reports 185 Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan Amid Cross-Border Clashes
UNAMA reports 56 civilians killed and 129 injured between February 26 and March 5, with women and children making up over half of the victims amid rising Afghanistan–Pakistan border tensions
The United Nations has reported a sharp rise in civilian casualties in Afghanistan due to ongoing cross-border clashes with Pakistan. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, at least 185 civilian casualties were recorded between February 26 and March 5, 2026.
In its latest update released on March 6, UNAMA confirmed that 56 civilians were killed and 129 others injured during this period. The casualties were mainly caused by indirect fire and aerial attacks linked to the cross-border hostilities.
The UN report highlighted that women and children accounted for nearly 55 percent of the total casualties, raising serious humanitarian concerns. One of the deadliest incidents occurred on February 27 in Barmal district of Paktika province, where airstrikes reportedly killed 14 civilians, including four women, two girls, five boys, and three men, while six others were injured. According to UNAMA, the number of civilians killed in the latest clashes has already surpassed the toll recorded during October 10–17, 2025, when 47 civilians were killed and 456 injured during earlier hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The report also noted that during the last three months of 2025, at least 70 civilians were killed and 478 injured across Afghanistan. Additionally, between January 1 and February 22, 2026, another 13 civilians were killed and 12 injured in airstrikes and cross-border shelling in Nangarhar province.
UNAMA has urged all parties involved to strictly follow international humanitarian law and take immediate measures to prevent further civilian casualties. The mission emphasized the urgent need to protect innocent lives amid rising tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
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