Pakistan Initiates Airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar Amid Rising Tensions with Afghanistan Advance

Pakistan has initiated airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar following attacks along the Afghan border, marking a significant escalation of tensions into open conflict after months of unrest.

On Friday, Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan’s two largest cities, including the capital, Kabul, as reported by officials from both nations, marking a significant escalation of months of border tensions and skirmishes into outright conflict.

The strikes also focused on the southern city of Kandahar, home to the Taliban’s supreme leader, Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, in addition to the eastern border province of Paktia.

A representative of the Taliban government, Zabiullah Mujahid, verified the sites of the strikes, stating: “Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan’s two largest cities on Friday, including the capital, Kabul.”

The bombardment occurred merely hours following an assault by Afghan troops on Pakistani border positions, as reported by officials from both nations.

Officials stated that the Afghan assaults were conducted in retaliation for earlier Pakistani strikes during the week, underscoring the swift escalation of hostilities between the neighboring countries.

Officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan have not yet verified the casualty figures from the recent series of attacks. Reports from international media, including The New York Times, indicated that the death toll in either country could not be verified at this time.