Pakistan-Afghanistan War: 4 Killed In Overnight Strikes In Kabul

Pakistan Air Forces have hit the fuel depots belonging to the private airline Kam Air near Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan, ANI reported citing Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

According to his post on X, the company provides fuel materials for domestic airlines as well as for United Nations aircraft. Zabihullah Mujahid also accused Pakistan of previously attacking the fuel storage of a national trader named Haji Khan Zadah.

On the other hand, a Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, stated Islamabad carried out overnight strikes targeting the Tehrik‑i‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group long accused of launching attacks inside Pakistan.

The strikes mark the latest escalation in cross‑border hostilities. Pakistan last month launched a wave of air raids on Afghan territory, claiming they were aimed at curbing militancy after a surge in attacks at home. The Taliban administration in Kabul has denied allowing Afghan soil to be used for such activities.

Khalil Zadran, spokesman for Kabul police, said four people were killed and 15 wounded when bombardments struck residential areas in the capital. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid added that Pakistani strikes also hit Kandahar, home to the Taliban's supreme leader, as well as the eastern provinces of Paktia and Paktika, which border Pakistan.

Islamabad claims that no civilians have been killed in its operations, though casualty figures from both sides remain difficult to verify independently. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that between 26 February and 5 March, 56 civilians, including 24 children, were killed by Pakistani military actions. The UN refugee agency said around 115,000 people were forced to flee their homes.

The conflict has spilled over into repeated clashes along the Durand Line, the disputed border between the two countries. These confrontations have disrupted trade and displaced residents in frontier regions. On 27 February, Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul and other Afghan cities. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an "open war", accusing the Taliban of sheltering global terrorists and exporting militancy.

Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defence claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations along the border on 26 February. The dispute over the Durand Line, coupled with the Taliban's return to power in 2021, has deepened tensions between the neighbours. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban to rein in groups such as the TTP, which emerged in 2007 and, while distinct from the Afghan Taliban, shares ideological and linguistic ties.

Armed attacks in Pakistan by the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have intensified in recent years, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, provinces that border Afghanistan.

India has strongly condemned Pakistan's strikes on Afghan territory, highlighting the civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. New Delhi reiterated its support for Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for restraint and respect for international norms.

The situation remains volatile, with both sides trading accusations and the humanitarian toll mounting. For Afghanistan, already grappling with economic hardship, the strikes add another layer of instability, while Pakistan faces growing pressure to contain militancy within its borders.