Afghanistan’s Taliban government has accused Pakistan’s military of carrying out airstrikes on residential areas in Kabul and other parts of the country, resulting in the deaths of at least six civilians and injuries to over a dozen individuals. The ongoing conflict between the two neighboring nations has escalated significantly over the past three weeks.
According to Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, Pakistani aircraft targeted fuel depots belonging to Kam Air, a private airline near the Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan. The fuel supplied by this company is utilized by civilian airlines and United Nations aircraft.
Pakistan’s state-run television reported that their armed forces conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan as part of their operation, focusing on alleged militant hideouts and their support infrastructure. The heightened tensions between the two nations have raised concerns about regional stability, especially with the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict against Iran causing widespread uncertainty.
The core of the dispute lies in Pakistan’s allegations that the Taliban government in Afghanistan shelters militant groups that carry out attacks against Pakistan and maintains close ties with Pakistan’s rival, India. The Taliban, however, denies harboring such militant groups.
The recent hostilities began late last month when both countries targeted each other’s military installations. Pakistan claimed to be targeting the Pakistani Taliban and its support networks along the border, while Afghanistan retaliated by striking Pakistani military installations in the Kohat district. The conflict has resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.
The Afghan government spokesperson, Mujahid, claimed that Pakistani airstrikes hit various civilian sites and uninhabited locations in provinces like Paktia and Paktika, among others. The situation remains tense, with Afghanistan vowing to respond to the attacks.
Reports indicate that civilians, including children, have been among the casualties of the hostilities. The total number of casualties across Afghanistan remains uncertain, with reports of deaths and injuries in different regions.
China has made efforts to mediate the conflict, with its special envoy engaging with officials in both Pakistan and Afghanistan to address the threats posed by terrorist groups and advocate for collective efforts towards peace and stability. Despite international calls for restraint, the conflict shows no signs of abating, with Pakistan emphasizing its operations against the outlawed Pakistani Taliban until concrete actions are taken by Kabul to address the issue.
In a separate incident, a roadside bomb targeting a police vehicle in northwest Pakistan resulted in the deaths of six officers. The Pakistani Taliban is suspected to be behind the attack, reflecting the group’s intensified activities inside Pakistan and along the border.
The return of the Afghan Taliban to power in 2021 has led to increased attacks by the TTP inside Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to continue military operations until concrete steps are taken by Kabul to curb the TTP and other militant groups operating from Afghanistan. Efforts to establish peace, including a Qatari-mediated ceasefire and peace talks in Turkey, have so far not yielded a lasting resolution to the conflict.