Explosions and gunfire were reported across Kabul as the Taliban government said it fired air-defence weapons at Pakistani aircraft after renewed border clashes. Strikes were reported around the former Bagram air base and other areas as Afghan and Pakistani forces exchanged fire. Both sides have issued conflicting casualty claims — including dozens of civilian deaths reported by Afghan officials and large troop losses asserted by both governments — but independent verification is lacking. Regional mediators have so far been unable to secure a truce.
Explosions Rock Kabul as Taliban Says It Fired On Pakistani Aircraft Amid Renewed Border Fighting
Months of cross-border clashes escalated Thursday when Afghanistan launched an offensive along the frontier, with Pakistani forces hitting back (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
Explosions and gunfire were heard across Kabul on Sunday as the Taliban-led Afghan government said its forces fired air-defence weapons at Pakistani aircraft following a fresh round of cross-border fighting.
A spokesman for Afghanistan's defence ministry said "air defence strikes were carried out against Pakistani aircraft in Kabul." Residents and AFP reporters described loud blasts and sustained gunfire before dawn, while witnesses across several provinces reported drones and jets overhead.
Strikes Reported Near Bagram
North of the capital, a resident told AFP that air strikes hit the former US air base at Bagram. Another witness described smoke and fire north of the airport and called the dawn raid "very terrifying." Provincial officials said Pakistani jets "attempted to bomb" the base but initially reported no confirmed casualties or damage.
Casualty Claims And Conflicting Reports
Afghan officials said three people were killed overnight in drone strikes and shelling, and deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat later said Pakistani fire had killed 36 civilians across several provinces since Thursday. Pakistan has not publicly confirmed the civilian toll and has disputed Afghan claims about military losses.
Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said strikes had hit dozens of locations in Afghanistan and claimed hundreds of Afghan soldier fatalities. Afghan spokesmen countered with their own casualty figures and said they had captured multiple Pakistani posts. Independent verification of casualties and battlefield claims from both sides remains difficult.
Fighting Along The Frontier
The renewed violence followed an Afghan offensive along the border on Thursday. Pakistani forces responded with ground actions and air strikes, with local officials reporting clashes at the Torkham crossing and in provinces including Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar, and Paktia. Residents described families fleeing and increased checkpoints in central Kabul as security forces bolstered their presence.
Context And Diplomatic Efforts
Islamabad has accused the Afghan authorities of not acting against militant groups—particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—whose attacks have surged in Pakistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The Taliban government rejects those accusations.
Regional mediators, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have attempted to broker a truce but, as of Sunday, diplomatic efforts had not halted the escalation. Analysts note this week's strikes represent a shift in Pakistan's campaign, which for the first time reportedly targeted Afghan government facilities from the air rather than focusing solely on militant hideouts.
Note: The situation remains fluid. Casualty figures and claims from both sides differ and have not been independently verified.
Help us improve.
