Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan boiled over with fresh Taliban allegations that Islamabad is orchestrating regional unrest. Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s chief spokesman, made the stunning assertion during a Friday briefing in Kandahar, pinpointing a Pakistani group bent on destabilization.
Appealing to global powers, Mujahid called for action against provocateurs. He detailed Afghanistan’s aerial response against Pakistani bases, triggered by Islamabad’s bombardment of key Afghan provinces. Casualties mounted quickly: 13 Afghan fighters lost their lives, with 22 more hurt in the Pakistani raids on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.
Mujahid emphasized Afghanistan’s preference for dialogue, citing failed negotiations where Pakistan dodged accountability. ‘They hunt for war excuses and drag their internal messes into our affairs,’ he charged, highlighting ongoing airspace violations by Pakistani jets.
Deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat announced precision strikes on Pakistani military hubs near Faizabad, Naushera, Jamrud colony, and Abbottabad. The operation, a direct riposte to the previous night’s attacks, claimed 55 enemy soldiers and captured strategic positions along the volatile frontier.
Afghan forces paid a price too, with eight fatalities and 11 wounded. The conflict spilled over to civilians when Pakistani missiles slammed into a Nangarhar refugee site, maiming 13 including vulnerable families. With accusations flying and borders aflame, experts warn of a dangerous spiral that could engulf neighbors in South Asia.