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Explosion rocks Kabul as Pakistan conducts airstrikes
Residents of Kabul's District 6 were jolted awake late Thursday by a powerful blast that rattled homes, followed by the roar of military jets overhead. The strikes marked a sharp escalation in hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Pakistani forces targeting multiple locations, including the capital, Kabul, as well as Paktia and Kandahar provinces.
Conflicting narratives on the origins of the conflict
The Taliban government in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for a ground offensive earlier in the night, stating it had seized several Pakistani military outposts near the border and killed or captured soldiers. Officials described the operation as retaliatory, citing a recent Pakistani incursion into Afghan territory that left civilians, including women and children, dead.
The Taliban's statement referenced airstrikes conducted by Pakistan on February 21 in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, which the United Nations confirmed resulted in the deaths of 13 Afghan civilians.
Pakistan denies civilian targets, points to militant groups
Islamabad countered the Taliban's claims, asserting its airstrikes exclusively targeted militant hideouts, particularly those of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group Pakistan refers to as Fitna al Khawarij. Pakistani authorities cited "conclusive evidence" linking the TTP to a recent suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad that killed over 30 people, despite the Islamic State's claim of responsibility.
Pakistan accused the Taliban government of harboring TTP leadership and enabling attacks on its soil, a charge Kabul vehemently denies. The Taliban maintains its territory is not used to threaten any nation and labels Pakistan's actions as "unprovoked."
Recent history of tensions and failed diplomacy
The latest clashes follow a pattern of escalating violence between the neighbors, including a series of cross-border strikes in October 2025. Mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey in Doha and Istanbul led to a fragile ceasefire, but negotiations ultimately collapsed, with both sides accusing the other of insincerity.
Military imbalance and evolving tactics
Pakistan holds a significant military advantage, boasting advanced weaponry, hundreds of aircraft, and a well-equipped army. In contrast, the Taliban government relies on equipment left behind by U.S. and NATO forces, supplemented by black-market purchases. While Afghanistan lacks the capability to conduct deep airstrikes into Pakistan, its forces have demonstrated proficiency in guerrilla warfare, honed over two decades of conflict with coalition forces.
The Taliban's use of drones in recent attacks underscores a shift in tactics. Small, inexpensive, and easily deployable, drones have become a game-changer in modern warfare, enabling strikes with minimal risk.
Information blackout and humanitarian fallout
Assessing the true scale of the conflict remains difficult due to limited access for independent journalists and the Taliban's restrictions on foreign media. Verifying claims from border regions is particularly challenging, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire with little reliable information.
The closure of trade routes since October 2025 has exacerbated Afghanistan's economic crisis, disrupting the flow of essential goods, including medicines. For ordinary Afghans, already grappling with hunger, poverty, and the Taliban's strict governance, the recent violence has shattered a fragile sense of security that had briefly taken hold after decades of war.
"The one positive since 2021 was that after four decades of war, we didn't have to worry about bombs falling on us. That feeling is gone now."
Resident of Kabul
