On Thursday late at night, two blasts and gunfire echoed through the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, after the Pakistan Air Force allegedly launched an attack to eliminate Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud. One of the witnesses shared that the sound of fighter jets was clearly heard in the city.

This operation followed hours after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that Pakistan would no longer tolerate cross-border terror attacks from Afghanistan, stating that the country had “run out of patience.” During his address to the National Assembly, Asif said, “Enough is enough.”

Why did the tension escalate?

The situation intensified after 11 Pakistani security personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and a major, were killed during a face-off with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Orakzai district. Raising the issue in Parliament, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that his country would go after terrorist facilitators “wherever they are” and take firm action.

The remarks coincided with the visit of Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to India — marking the first high-level diplomatic contact between New Delhi and the Taliban regime, which took over Afghanistan in 2021.

Asif was quoted by a Pakistani newspaper saying, “Our patience is not endless. Those who provide refuge or support to terrorists — be it in Pakistan or Afghanistan — will have to bear the consequences.”

He further stated that during a visit to Kabul three years ago, Pakistan had raised concerns regarding cross-border militancy. However, the Taliban had failed to honor the ambiguous promises they made at that time.

What does Afghanistan have to say?

Talking to X, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said, “The sound of an explosion was heard in the city of Kabul. However, no one should worry; everything is fine. The investigation of the incident is underway, and no reports of damage have been received so far.”

According to Afghan media, a heavy explosion occurred near Abdul Haq Square, hitting a Land Cruiser vehicle. Local outlet TOLO News reported that residents said the Abdul Haq intersection was closed following the incident, leading to severe traffic congestion in the area.

Amid the ongoing tension, a video has gone viral showing a Taliban border guard warmly greeting an Indian traveler at a checkpoint in Afghanistan. The clip, shared on X by a user named Fazal Afghan, shows an Indian motorcyclist stopped for a routine passport inspection. When the traveler revealed he was from India, the guard’s demeanor changed immediately. Smiling, he said, “India and Afghanistan are brothers. No passport or written permission is required; please go ahead. Welcome to Kabul, Afghanistan.”

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