The Taliban government has accused Pakistan of violating Afghanistan’s airspace by carrying out strikes during the night between October 9 and 10.
One strike reportedly occurred in Kabul around 9:50 p.m. local time, in the Abdul Haq Square area near several government ministries and the national intelligence agency. A second strike targeted a marketplace in Barmal district of Paktika province, in southeastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan. No casualties have been reported.
Authorities have launched investigations into both incidents, but the Taliban Ministry of Defense has already blamed Pakistani forces for the attacks and warned that Islamabad would be held responsible for any escalation.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Major General Ahmed Chaudhry, declined to confirm any involvement but reiterated Islamabad’s claims that militant groups such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan territory. He added that the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 has enabled the TTP’s resurgence, including attacks that recently killed twelve Pakistani soldiers.
Kabul firmly rejects those accusations, alleging instead that Pakistan supports regional militant groups, including ISIS-K, the Islamic State’s local affiliate. Pakistan recorded more than 1,600 deaths from militant violence in 2024, making it the country’s deadliest year in nearly a decade.