Kabul accuses Islamabad of airstrikes and violating Afghan sovereignty
Intense fighting has erupted along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, deepening tensions between the two neighboring countries. The Taliban accused Pakistan’s military of carrying out airstrikes inside Afghan territory, sparking violent clashes between border forces.
The Airstrikes and the Accusations
According to Taliban officials, Pakistani aircraft bombed an open-air market near the border on Friday, allegedly breaching Afghanistan’s airspace. The Afghan Ministry of Defense condemned the attack as “unprecedented, violent, and provocative,” asserting that defending national territory is Afghanistan’s “legitimate right.”
Pakistan has not issued an official statement, but security sources claim the airstrikes targeted hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a militant group operating from Afghanistan and responsible for numerous attacks on Pakistani soil.
Border Engagements and Civilian Fear
A Taliban military spokesperson said that in “retaliation” for the bombings, Afghan forces engaged Pakistani security units at multiple border points. Residents near Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces reported heavy gunfire and explosions overnight.
Both countries have reportedly reinforced their military presence along the frontier, while hundreds of families are fleeing the area amid fears of renewed clashes.
A Deepening Diplomatic Rift
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering TTP fighters, while the Taliban government claims Pakistan seeks to extend its influence through military aggression.
International observers warn that this escalation could further destabilize the region, risking new waves of violence and displacement in an already volatile border zone.
