The Taliban government in Afghanistan has blamed Pakistan for explosions in Kabul and Paktika province, deepening a growing rift between the two neighbours. The accusation came on Friday. A day after the blasts and just hours after the Taliban’s foreign minister arrived in India for a rare diplomatic visit.
Initially, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that an explosion had been heard in Kabul but said the cause was under investigation. On Friday, however, the Afghan Ministry of Defence directly accused Pakistan of orchestrating the incidents, without providing evidence or details.
The explosions occurred amid a severe breakdown in Pakistan–Afghanistan relations. Islamabad has long accused the Taliban of harbouring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). An armed group responsible for numerous deadly attacks across Pakistan. Kabul has repeatedly denied those claims, insisting it does not support cross-border violence.
Following the blasts, social media speculation suggested that Pakistan may have targeted senior TTP leaders. Including its chief Noor Wali Mehsud, though Afghan officials later said he was unharmed. When questioned by reporters, Pakistan’s military spokesman Major General Ahmad Sharif did not confirm or deny involvement. “Afghanistan is being used as a base for attacks against Pakistan. We will take all necessary measures to protect our people,” he said.
The developments coincide with the Taliban’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to New Delhi. The first since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Analysts say the trip marks a strategic shift in the Taliban’s regional policy, as it seeks to improve ties with India while tensions with Pakistan rise.
According to Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul in April as part of efforts to repair ties after a surge in violence in 2024, when more than 2,500 people were killed. But the fragile peace did not last. The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies reported that violence in 2025 has nearly matched last year’s toll.
Meanwhile, the BBC noted that Pakistan has expelled nearly a million Afghan refugees since November 2023, further straining relations. In recent months, deadly attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have intensified, prompting military operations against alleged Afghan-based militants.
Security analyst Tameem Bahiss, based in Kabul, warned. That if Pakistan conducted strikes inside Afghanistan, tensions could spiral out of control. “Previous airstrikes only deepened mistrust and made cooperation against the TTP harder,” he said.
Reuters also reported that any fresh attacks inside Afghanistan could spark a new cycle of violence, with the TTP likely to retaliate through cross-border assaults.
As both governments trade accusations, regional stability remains fragile. Analysts say the escalating hostility between Pakistan and Afghanistan could derail peace efforts and open new fronts in an already volatile region.
