Afghan Politicians React To Deadly Pakistan Strike In Kabul
Afghan political figures have reacted strongly to a Pakistani airstrike in Kabul which, according to the Taliban, targeted a drug rehabilitation centre and left “hundreds” dead.
Afghan political figures have reacted strongly to a Pakistani airstrike in Kabul which, according to the Taliban, targeted a drug rehabilitation centre and left “hundreds” dead.
Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, a prominent Afghan jihadi leader, described the bombing of a rehabilitation centre as “hostility toward the Afghan people and humanity”.
Condemning the attack, Sayyaf also criticised the Taliban, saying that if they had acted wisely, reconciled with the people and ensured national unity, no one would have dared to violate Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, former Afghan foreign minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta wrote on X that yielding to what he described as Pakistan’s aggression would amount to betrayal of the homeland. He added that resisting Pakistan’s actions did not mean aligning with the Taliban.
Abdullah Abdullah, former chief executive of Afghanistan, described the airstrike on the rehabilitation centre as “inhumane” and called it a clear violation of international law and humanitarian principles.
Former finance minister Omar Zakhilwal condemned the strikes on Kabul and Nangarhar as “brutal and indiscriminate attacks”, saying they reflected hostility and would have serious consequences for security.
Shahrzad Akbar, former head of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission, said deliberate attacks on civilians constituted a crime. She added that recent Pakistani strikes on Afghan territory were clear violations of international and humanitarian law and should be documented and investigated.
Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, former Afghan intelligence chief, warned that repeated Pakistani attacks not only threatened Afghanistan’s security but also directly affected the daily lives of its people and signalled an escalation of conflict in the region.
In addition to these figures, several other former officials and political figures including former foreign minister Hanif Atmar, former army commander Sami Sadat, former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil, former president Hamid Karzai, former chief of staff Fazl Mahmood Fazly and former lawmaker Fawzia Koofi also strongly condemned the attack.
