An intensification of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the past week has resulted in the deaths of 56 Afghan civilians, including 24 children and six women, prompting the United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Trk to implore both sides to end the fighting immediately.
In a statement today, Volker Trk highlighted the devastating human cost of the conflict, with a further 129 people injured, among them 41 children and 31 women. The latest violence has also displaced up to 66,000 people inside Afghanistan, according to UN figures.
The impact has been severe on both sides of the border. In Pakistan, shelling and other fire have forced people to abandon their homes. At least two schools have reportedly been struck, and more than 100 have been closed as a security precaution.
‘Civilians on both sides of the border are now having to flee from airstrikes, heavy artillery fire, mortar shelling and gunfire,’ Trk said. ‘I plead with all parties to bring an end to the conflict, and to prioritise helping those experiencing extreme hardship.’
The High Commissioner called on the Pakistan military and Afghan de facto security forces to uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians. He urged prompt, independent investigations into alleged violations and insisted that those responsible be held accountable in line with international standards.
The recent casualties add to a worrying trend. In 2025, the UN attributed 87 civilian deaths and 518 injuries in Afghanistan to Pakistani military forces, the highest annual figure for cross-border attacks since record-keeping began in 2009. Since the start of this year alone, 69 civilians have been killed and 141 injured in the country.
The conflict exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation. ‘As a result of the violence, humanitarian assistance is unable to reach many of those desperately in need. This is piling misery on misery,’ Trk stated. Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population, almost 22 million people, require humanitarian aid, including over 11.6 million children.
The violence further complicates the status of millions of Afghans. Since Pakistan began implementing its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan in September 2023, over two million Afghans have returned. However, an estimated two million remain in Pakistan, many facing hardship and a constant fear of arrest and deportation.
The airstrikes on Afghanistan follow a series of deadly incidents in Pakistan this year, including an assault on a checkpoint in Bajaur and suicide bombings in Islamabad and Dera Ismail Khan, which were allegedly committed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups.
‘The cycle of retaliation and violence only deepens the suffering of the wider population,’ Trk warned, urging both nations to de-escalate and address security concerns through dialogue, negotiation and mutual cooperation.