Kabul/New Delhi – The Afghan Ministry of Defense on Friday accused Pakistan of breaching Afghanistan’s airspace and conducting strikes in Paktika, Paktia, and Khost provinces, as well as over Kabul, an allegation Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejected earlier in the morning.
In a statement posted on X, the Afghan Ministry claimed that “Pakistan’s forces targeted a civilian market in the Margha area of Paktika province, near the Durand Line, and also violated the airspace over the capital, Kabul.” Calling the act “unprecedented, violent, and reprehensible,” the ministry asserted that “defending Afghanistan’s airspace is our legitimate right,” warning that “the consequences will fall on the Pakistani army.”
The statement followed reports of multiple explosions heard across Kabul late Thursday night, which Afghan officials linked to suspected cross-border strikes. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office neither confirmed nor denied the incident, saying only that it had “seen reports of explosions in Kabul” and had “no further details at this time.”
Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that “a blast was heard in Kabul,” but said no casualties had been reported and that investigations were ongoing.
Muttaqi’s Remarks from India
Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, currently visiting India, also addressed the reported strikes during a media interaction. Calling the alleged actions “a wrong step by the Pakistan government,” he cautioned that “such issues cannot be resolved by strength.”
“If someone dares to commit such acts, they should first talk to Britain, the USSR, and America, they’ll tell them it’s not good to play such games with Afghanistan,” Muttaqi said, referring to past military interventions that failed to subdue the country.
He acknowledged reports of explosions but maintained that details remained unclear: “Yes, I have this information that a blast was heard in Kabul, but we do not know what this sound was, and no casualty has been reported so far. However, in border areas, some attacks have happened, and we condemn it.”
Muttaqi underscored the need for diplomacy, saying, “Countries with issues should resolve them internally.” He added that Afghanistan had “opened doors for dialogue and diplomacy,” expressing surprise at those who “have problems with the peace Afghanistan has achieved after 40 years.”
Highlighting Afghanistan’s strategic geography, Muttaqi stated: “Our location allows us to be a substantive transit route. As much as we want good relations with India, we want them with Pakistan too, but it cannot be achieved by us alone.”
The remarks come amid rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad following a series of cross-border attacks claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Many Afghan nationals have reportedly been killed alongside TTP militants in ongoing counterterrorism operations across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
