Saturday, March 29, 2025
Kabul, October 10, 2025 — A series of powerful explosions shook eastern Kabul around midnight on Thursday, sparking widespread speculation of a Pakistani airstrike just hours after Islamabad issued fresh warnings to the Taliban regime over cross-border militancy.
Residents in Kabul’s District 8 and Abdul Haq Square — areas that host both government offices and residential complexes — reported hearing loud blasts followed by the sound of aircraft and gunfire. Local media claimed the strikes targeted a compound where Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud was suspected to be hiding.
Although no group has claimed responsibility, the timing is raising eyebrows. The explosions occurred while Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was on a historic visit to New Delhi — the first high-level Afghan trip to India since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Analysts warn the Kabul incident could further escalate regional tensions.
An Afghan Taliban spokesperson confirmed that a blast was heard in Kabul but insisted there was “no need for concern”, adding that investigations were underway and no casualties had been reported so far. However, TRT World and other outlets suggested the attack was unlikely to be a coincidence, pointing to the concurrent Afghan-India engagement.
The development follows sharp remarks from Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who told Parliament earlier this week:
“Enough is enough. Our patience has run out. Terrorism from Afghan soil is intolerable.”
He claimed Islamabad had repeatedly urged Kabul to dismantle TTP sanctuaries, estimating 6,000–7,000 fighters were present inside Afghanistan.
Asif also alleged that the Afghan authorities once asked Pakistan for financial assistance to resettle militants away from the border — a demand Islamabad rejected.
Within hours of his fiery speech, multiple reports of airstrikes near Kabul surfaced. While official confirmation from Pakistan remains pending, the sequence of events has fueled speculation that Islamabad may have acted on its threats.
The incident comes at a delicate moment, as Afghanistan seeks to rebuild ties with India and diversify its diplomatic outreach. Any escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan risks further destabilizing the already volatile region, where cross-border militancy and security concerns remain unresolved.
