Blast Rocks Kabul As Sources Blame Pakistan Airstrike

In a statement, the army said its forces repelled the assault and killed between 25 and 30 militants from both groups during the clashes.

The military added that in retaliatory strikes, Pakistani troops destroyed eight outposts and six armoured vehicles belonging to the Afghan Taliban and the TTP.

State-run Pakistan Television (PTV), citing security officials, reported that the clashes began after militants from the Afghan Taliban and TTP opened fire on Pakistani border positions.

The incident marks another escalation in cross-border violence amid rising tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban government in Kabul over militant sanctuaries and recent airstrikes.

Speaking at a gathering in Paktika province on Tuesday, October 14, Haqqani expressed frustration that the sacrifices of Taliban fighters were being overlooked, while some individuals “make grand claims” in the media and public meetings.

He urged such figures to “refrain from boastful behaviour” and to recognise the struggles of those who fought on the battlefield. “Do not act in ways that will cause this position and system to be taken away from you,” Haqqani warned. “Just as those stronger than you were once overthrown, God has now granted you this position.”

Although Haqqani did not name anyone, sources told Afghanistan International that his remarks were directed at members of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s inner circle, particularly Neda Mohammad Nadim, the group’s minister of higher education.

Nadim, a hardline Kandahar loyalist, has reportedly begun referring to himself as the “Conqueror of Kabul”, a title previously claimed by Haqqani. The two figures represent rival factions within the Taliban, with Haqqani often viewed as part of a more pragmatic bloc, while Akhundzada’s supporters maintain a rigid ideological stance.

Haqqani reminded Taliban officials to remain humble, saying that many of them were previously “unknown and fearful of drone strikes,” but now enjoyed power and prominence. He warned that arrogance could “tarnish the sacrifices” made by Taliban fighters.

The remarks come amid rising internal tensions within the group, further strained by recent deadly clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces. Analysts say the fighting has exposed divisions over how the group should respond to Pakistan, with some advocating a tougher stance and others urging restraint.

Haqqani, who has remained silent on the border conflict, has seen his influence gradually eroded by Akhundzada’s Kandahar faction since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Wardak said the attacks violated “all human, Islamic, and neighbourly principles,” adding that the Taliban had delivered an “appropriate response.”

In a statement issued after the meeting, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said Wardak emphasised that “war is not a solution” and that the Taliban administration seeks “good and positive relations with all neighbouring countries.”

The Chinese ambassador reportedly urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue, stressing the importance of regional stability.

Wardak reiterated that the Taliban remains committed to peaceful engagement but warned: “If anyone violates our rights and values, the Afghan nation considers it its legitimate right to defend them, and will do so with dignity.”

The meeting came amid heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan following cross-border airstrikes and armed clashes in recent days.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces launched the assault early Wednesday, using both light and heavy weapons.

Mujahid claimed that Taliban forces launched counterattacks, killing “a large number of invading Pakistani soldiers.” He added that Taliban fighters “captured several Pakistani outposts and bases, seized weapons and tanks, and destroyed most of their military facilities.”

Pakistan has not yet commented on the Taliban’s claims, and the reports could not be independently verified.

The latest incident marks a sharp escalation in border tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, following several days of clashes and the closure of key crossings between the two countries.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Karimi wrote that Pakistan’s rulers “have proven to be an artificial project and a cancerous tumour against peace and stability in the region.”

He accused Islamabad’s leadership of “holding its own people hostage” and turning Pakistan into “a playground for ISIS, drug trafficking, and other dangerous games.”

The post was deleted a few hours later without explanation.