Pakistan’s Suspected Airstrikes Rock Kabul, Heighten Tensions with Afghanistan

Kabul – Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached a flashpoint on Friday after a series of powerful explosions shook Kabul, with early reports pointing to possible cross-border airstrikes.

Residents in several neighbourhoods of the Afghan capital reported hearing aircraft overhead just before the blasts, which were concentrated in District 8, an area that houses both government offices and residential complexes. The explosions triggered panic, though the source has not been officially confirmed.

The incident came only hours after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a sharp warning in Parliament:

“Enough is enough, our patience has run out. Terrorism from Afghan soil is intolerable,” he declared, citing Kabul’s alleged refusal to curb militant activity against Pakistan.

Although Islamabad has not formally acknowledged any strikes, the timing of Asif’s remarks and the Kabul explosions have fueled suspicions of deliberate military action. Adding to tensions, mobile internet services were abruptly suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with no official explanation.

The alleged strikes drew condemnation from Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch, who denounced Pakistan’s “rogue military” on X. He urged Kabul to recognize Balochistan as an independent state and integrate Pashtunistan into Afghanistan, arguing such a move could neutralize Pakistan’s military influence along the frontier.

As both governments remain silent on the exact nature of the blasts, fears of a broader military escalation in the region are rising.

With inputs from IANS