Taliban Accuses Pakistan of Targeting Civilian Homes in Airstrikes, Citing Casualties

Kabul. The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan on Friday morning accused Pakistan of targeting civilian homes in overnight airstrikes in the capital Kabul and the southern province of Kandahar, reporting at least four civilian deaths. This accusation comes as the military tension between the two neighboring countries enters its third week.

Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid informed via the social media platform X that Pakistani aircraft also struck a fuel depot belonging to the private airline 'Kam Air' near Kandahar airport. According to him, this depot supplied fuel to civilian aircraft as well as United Nations flights.

The Pakistani government or military has not yet issued any formal reaction regarding this incident.

Military tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified in recent weeks. Since the end of February, both sides have been targeting each other's military installations. Kabul claims its forces have struck Pakistani posts in response to Pakistani attacks along the border.

Meanwhile, Pakistan claims its operations target the Pakistani Taliban and their support networks active in the border regions. Afghanistan has not formally recognized such a group.

Both sides claim the recent clashes are the deadliest in recent years. Islamabad has interpreted the current situation as akin to an 'open war' with Afghanistan.

Mujahid mentioned in his statement that Pakistani attacks also targeted civilian areas and uninhabited locations in various provinces, including Paktia and Paktika, warning that they would not go unanswered.

According to Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran, at least four civilians, including children, were killed in the attacks in the capital, and another 15 were injured. Clear details about the damage in other parts of the country have not yet been made public.

Meanwhile, regional security and the threat of terrorist groups were key discussion points even as China's special envoy Yue Xiaoyong arrived in Islamabad following a visit to Kabul. Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, wrote on X that he met with the Chinese envoy and discussed security challenges posed by groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). He also noted that both sides agreed on the necessity of collective efforts for lasting peace and stability.

Repeated calls from the international community for restraint have not yet shown significant impact. Pakistan has previously claimed its attacks targeted only the banned Pakistani Taliban militants, whom they refer to as 'Kharajis'. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban government of harboring these groups, a claim Kabul consistently denies.

Pakistan claims that the TTP has increased attacks inside Pakistan and in border areas since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Islamabad has warned that its military operations will continue until effective steps are taken to control the TTP and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.

The current military confrontation has also ended the ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey last October. The ceasefire signed in Qatar led to six days of talks in Istanbul, which resulted in an agreement to extend the ceasefire and hold a third round of talks in November. However, recent clashes indicate that the two neighboring countries are once again close to war.