At least 42 civilians killed in Afghanistan in conflict with Pakistan, UN agency says

At least 42 civilians have been killed and 104 wounded in Afghanistan during clashes with Pakistani forces between February 26 and March 2, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which released its findings in Kabul on Tuesday. The UN agency documented the civilian impact across multiple provinces along the volatile border region where both countries have engaged in military operations against militant groups. The reported casualties include men, women, and children who were caught in crossfire or affected by shelling and airstrikes during the intense week-long confrontation. UNAMA expressed deep concern about the disproportionate impact on civilian populations and called on both nations to take all feasible precautions to protect non-combatants amidst ongoing hostilities. The conflict erupted amid rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad over cross-border militant activities and territorial disputes, with both sides accusing the other of harboring insurgents targeting their respective governments.