Taliban Accuses Pakistan of Airstrikes Amid Rising Tensions in Kabul

Escalating Tensions Between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Islamabad: On Friday, the Taliban administration accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes in Kabul and targeting a market in eastern Afghanistan, claiming that the neighboring country had breached its airspace.

The explosion occurred around 10 p.m. local time on Thursday in the Abdul Haq Square area, which is near several government ministries and the national intelligence agency. Following the blast, security forces cordoned off the area.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, reported that there were no immediate injuries or damage, labeling the explosion as an accident and stating that an investigation was underway.

However, Afghanistan's Defense Ministry asserted on Friday that Pakistan was accountable for the attack, as well as another incident in the eastern province of Paktika.

The Afghan Defense Ministry did not clarify the origin of the bombing or how Pakistan managed to execute a strike in a populated area without being intercepted.

Historically, Pakistan has conducted strikes within Afghan territory to target what it claims are militant bases.

It is believed that leaders and fighters of the Pakistani Taliban operate from Afghanistan, a claim that the Afghan Taliban refutes.

The Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the recent strikes as 'unprecedented, violent, and heinous,' warning that the Pakistani military would face repercussions if the situation escalated. The statement did not provide details on the alleged targets, casualties, or damage.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a monitoring organization, noted that it remains uncertain who was behind the Kabul strike or its source. If confirmed, this would mark the first such incident in the Afghan capital since the U.S. strike in 2022 that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Pearl Pandya, a senior analyst with the monitoring group, indicated that Pakistan has intensified its airstrikes within Afghanistan this year, focusing on suspected Pakistani Taliban hideouts.

'These alleged strikes coincide with the Taliban's first diplomatic visit to India since regaining power in 2021,' Pandya remarked. 'An improvement in relations between India and Afghanistan is likely to be viewed unfavorably by Islamabad, which is concerned about potential destabilization along its western borders.'