Kabul Has ‘Other Options’ If Border Security Efforts Fail, Warns Taliban FM

The report said that militants opposed to Pakistan were present at the targeted site. It added that the airstrike was part of ongoing operations aimed at eliminating groups accused of launching cross-border attacks into Pakistan.

The Taliban authorities in Kandahar and Kabul have not yet commented on the claims, and there has been no independent confirmation of the reported airstrike.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban government, following a series of deadly clashes and mutual accusations of harbouring militant groups on each other’s territory.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the assaults originated from Afghan territory and targeted several areas, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral and Baramcha. In retaliation, the Pakistani army conducted counter-operations and struck “multiple militant positions,” the statement said.

Sharif vowed that Pakistan would defend its territorial integrity, warning that “no provocation or aggression will go unanswered.” He praised the army’s actions as “professional and courageous” and said the Pakistani people “stand united with their armed forces.”

The latest escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, with both governments trading accusations of harbouring militants responsible for cross-border attacks.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Mujahid claimed that “certain circles” in Pakistan were unhappy with Afghanistan’s improved security and progress in political, economic and social sectors. He said these elements “cannot tolerate Afghanistan’s stability and have therefore resorted to conspiracies.”

According to Mujahid, this “particular circle” operates within Pakistan’s army and has been working to undermine the Taliban administration. He urged Islamabad to reconsider its policies towards Afghanistan, warning that continued interference would harm bilateral relations.

Mujahid also alleged that regional countries were aware of Islamic State (ISIS) safe havens inside Pakistan. He said the group was responsible for attacks on Shias, Sufis and Hindus in Afghanistan, and called on the Pakistani government to hand over ISIS leaders allegedly hiding on its territory.

The remarks come amid growing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, with both sides accusing each other of harbouring militant groups that threaten regional security.

Company officials said there will be three round-trip flights per week, on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with return journeys scheduled for the same day.

Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the addition of Kabul is part of the airline’s broader strategy to expand access to regional markets. He said that these flights will open new opportunities for trade, investment and family reunions.

According to the Afghan Business Council, nearly 300,000 Afghan citizens live and work in the United Arab Emirates, which remains one of the main hubs for Afghan migration, trade and business in the Gulf region.

Several UAE-based carriers previously operated flights on the Abu Dhabi–Kabul route before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

In a post on X on Saturday, 11 October, UNICEF reiterated its call for the Taliban to lift the ban on girls’ education and urged greater investment in Afghanistan’s struggling education sector.

The continued denial of schooling for girls has drawn widespread international condemnation. Global leaders, rights activists and organisations, including Amnesty International and UNICEF, have repeatedly called on the Taliban to reopen girls’ schools.

Despite mounting pressure, the Taliban have ignored all appeals and, for the fourth consecutive year, continue to ban girls from attending secondary schools and universities, a policy that has left millions of Afghan girls deprived of education.