Bombs & Aircraft Cannot Defeat Us, Says Taliban Leader

A Taliban spokesperson said the group’s leader performed Eid al-Fitr prayers and delivered a speech at the mosque.

According to the sources, Taliban special forces had deployed anti-drone systems and defensive equipment around the Eidgah Mosque.

These measures came after Pakistan in recent days carried out strikes in Kandahar, including targeting a facility linked to the Taliban leader’s special forces.

However, the Taliban and Pakistan have announced a temporary ceasefire for Eid al-Fitr.

To secure their leader, the Taliban deployed heavy weapons around the mosque, and armed Taliban personnel were also present inside.

According to the sources, all roads leading to the Eidgah Mosque had been under tight security surveillance for several days, and houses near the mosque had also been searched.

The sources added that during Akhundzada’s speech, the use of even basic mobile phones was banned inside the Eidgah Mosque.

Speaking Wednesday at the funeral of victims of a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, Haqqani said the Taliban had the capacity to respond but sought to avoid further crisis.

He called on the people and religious scholars in Pakistan to prevent actions against civilians in Afghanistan.

Haqqani described the airstrike on Kabul as “shameful” and called for an investigation by humanitarian organisations.

He said the Taliban would respond to the incident “with full prudence”, adding that they should not be driven by revenge.

Haqqani also urged Pakistan’s Muslim community and religious leaders to stop what he described as those responsible for such actions.

The Taliban had earlier claimed that more than 400 people were killed and 265 others wounded in Monday night’s airstrike on the Afghan capital.

Pakistan has rejected the Taliban’s claim that a rehabilitation centre was targeted, saying it struck military facilities and infrastructure linked to militant groups.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said previously that “dozens” of people were killed or wounded in the attack but had not officially released a precise casualty figure.

In a statement, UNAMA said the drug treatment centre in Kabul had been “affected” by the Pakistani airstrike.

Muttaqi urged Taliban representatives abroad to convey the group’s position on the conflict to the international community.

In a statement, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said participants in the meeting condemned what they described as Pakistan’s “brutal” airstrike on Monday night near a drug rehabilitation centre.

Taliban diplomats in different countries described the attack as a clear violation of humanitarian principles.

The statement added that Muttaqi issued instructions to Taliban diplomats regarding the group’s position, policies and future actions in response to Pakistan.

Zamir Kabulov, the Russian president’s envoy for Afghanistan, said in an interview with a Russian newspaper that rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban could escalate further.

Kabulov added that Russia maintains good relations with both Pakistan and the Taliban and would be willing to act as a mediator if requested by both sides.

He said Moscow is seeking a compromise solution that could help end the conflict and shift the situation towards diplomacy, but stressed that Russia does not intend to impose itself on the parties involved.