UNAMA quickly reports civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan but largely ignores the cross-border terrorism (especially TTP attacks) planned and facilitated from Afghan soil that provoke those responses.

UN reports confirm the Taliban continue to harbour TTP leadership and fighters, with most suicide bombers targeting Pakistan originating from Afghanistan, yet this context is routinely omitted from casualty statements.

True civilian protection and neutrality require consistent scrutiny of both kinetic strikes and the sanctuaries, recruitment, and public glorification of terrorists that drive the cycle of violence.

The protection of civilians is a legal and ethical imperative and there is no rational counter-terrorism policy that would overlook real civilian casualties. However, a consistent approach to civilian protection advocacy is needed. UNAMA made a swift effort to issue a statement confirming the death of 28 civilians and the wounding of 49 civilians due to Pakistani airstrikes in Paktya, Paktika and Kunar on 29 June 2026. This is fair and proper to be subjected to. Where the attention paid to military operations on a near-instant basis is international while the sanctuaries, recruitment networks and propaganda which create cross-border suicide attacks are largely ignored is the problem. 

This is extreme in the attack on Cadet College Wana on 10 November 2025, where an explosives laden vehicle hit the gate and gunmen made an attempt to breach an institution, which has hundreds of students and staff. A condolence ceremony for Janullah or Zahid Ayyubi, an Afghan who was reported to be from Mohmand Dara in Nangarhar province, was held on 22 December in the presence of Taliban officials and pictures of the militants were released. Later, Pakistani security source identified........

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