Afghanistan opens fire on Pakistani aircraft after Iran tensions
Afghanistan (photo: Getty Images)
A representative of the administration of the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that Afghan forces used air defense systems against Pakistani aircraft over Kabul following a series of explosions in the capital, according to Reuters.
Read also: 'Open war': Why fighting erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan
According to the news agency, the incident occurred on the morning of March 1 amid rising regional tensions, which are already affected by US and Israeli strikes on Iran and corresponding attacks in Persian Gulf countries.
What happened in Kabul
Explosions in the Afghan capital were heard before dawn, after which witnesses reported gunfire. There was no official information about the targets of the shelling or possible casualties at the time of posting.
“Air defence attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft. Kabul residents should not be concerned,” Mujahid said.
The Pakistani side has not publicly commented on the situation.
Causes of the escalation
The escalation followed airstrikes on Afghan territory, which Pakistan justified as part of its fight against militant infrastructure.
Afghanistan viewed these actions as a violation of its sovereignty and announced retaliatory steps along the 2600 km shared border.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering the group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan. The Afghan side rejects these claims.
International reaction
Several countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, called for restraint and offered mediation. The US confirmed support for Pakistan’s right to self-defense.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described the situation as an open war, while Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani warned that the conflict would be very costly.
Pakistan declared a transition to open war against the Taliban government amid a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations and ongoing border fighting. On February 27, Pakistani aviation carried out strikes on several Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia Province.
Afghan military officials announced the start of retaliatory actions on Pakistani territory after Pakistan’s airstrikes on border regions, triggering another escalation of tensions between the two countries. According to Kabul, on the evening of February 26, heavy clashes broke out along the Afghan-Pakistani border, primarily in eastern provinces. The Afghan side calls these battles a response to Pakistani strikes on Nangarhar Province and Paktia Province carried out last week.
