Explosions Jolt Kabul as Pakistan–Afghanistan Tensions Boil Over

Residents of the Afghan capital were startled late Thursday night by a series of loud explosions that echoed across Kabul. The Taliban administration confirmed the blasts but said the cause remains under investigation.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, released a brief statement noting that “the sound of an explosion was heard in the city of Kabul,” but assured citizens that “no one should worry” as preliminary investigations reported no casualties or damage. Witnesses, including a Reuters correspondent, said they heard at least two explosions around 9:50 p.m. local time.

While Kabul officials maintained that details are still unclear, speculation quickly spread following comments by former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who alleged that Pakistan may have carried out strikes in the Afghan capital — a claim that, if confirmed, would mark a serious escalation in cross-border hostilities.

“Today’s Pakistani strikes against Afghanistan’s capital are a huge escalation and pose dangerous risks,” Khalilzad wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He urged both sides to avoid military confrontation and instead pursue negotiations to address “terrorist sanctuaries on both sides of the Durand Line.”

Khalilzad accused Pakistan of “recklessly backing ISIS operatives” and warned that continued hostilities could “increase death and destruction in both countries.” He called for dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul, insisting that “military escalation is not the answer.”

The reports emerged just a day after Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, told the National Assembly that “collateral damage cannot be ruled out” if Pakistani security forces come under attack, warning that “enough is enough.”

The remarks reflected Islamabad’s growing frustration with the presence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Afghan soil — a group accused of carrying out deadly assaults inside Pakistan.

Amid the rising tensions, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a week-long visit — marking the first high-level delegation from the Taliban government to India since it took power in 2021. The visit, spanning October 9 to 16, is seen as an attempt by Kabul to strengthen regional ties and counter its growing diplomatic isolation.

The Taliban returned to power in August 2021, establishing its second regime since the late 1990s. Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated steadily since then, as both accuse each other of harboring militant groups responsible for attacks across the border.

Thursday night’s explosions — whether accidental, militant-linked, or part of a cross-border incident — have heightened fears of further instability in a region already on edge. As investigations continue, both governments face mounting pressure to de-escalate before tensions spiral into open conflict.