Pakistani Airstrikes Kill Five, Injure Dozens in Kabul; Thousands Displaced Amid Rising Cross-Border Tensions

Kabul, Oct 2025 : At least five people were killed and dozens injured in a series of Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and other border regions this week, local media reported on Saturday. The attacks, which follow escalating border clashes, have triggered a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of families forced to flee their homes.

Medical officials at Kabul’s Emergency Hospital confirmed that nearly 40 wounded civilians were admitted following the strikes, several of whom are in critical condition. “Some patients are receiving intensive care due to severe injuries,” said Dr. Zabiullah, one of the attending physicians.

Among the wounded is 17-year-old Ahmad Wali, who recounted the moment of the attack. “We were sitting in the car when the plane came and attacked. After that, I don’t remember anything. When I regained consciousness, I was already in the hospital, and one of my hands had been amputated,” he told TOLOnews.

Another survivor, Mawludin, described the horrifying aftermath: “When the explosion happened, glass fell on me from above. My friends pulled me out, but I wasn’t fully conscious. Everything was dark, there was dust everywhere, and people—old and young—were in terrible condition.”

Local officials said that following intense cross-border clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces, around 20,000 families have been displaced from Spin Boldak city in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province. These families have reportedly taken refuge in barren desert areas without access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, or clean water.

“The Pakistani side carried out brutal bombings in densely populated areas of Spin Boldak. As a result, 20,000 families were displaced, and we are working to provide them assistance,” said Nematullah Olfat, deputy head of the Kandahar Department of Refugees and Repatriation, as quoted by TOLOnews.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are underway to ease tensions. According to Pakistani daily Dawn, representatives from Pakistan and the Taliban government are expected to meet in Doha, with mediation by Qatar, in a bid to prevent further escalation.

The talks come after Pakistan launched multiple airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on Friday, a move that Kabul denounced as a violation of the fragile ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

Adding to the tragedy, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that three Afghan cricketers—identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon—were killed in one of the airstrikes while traveling from Urgun to Sharana, near the Pakistan border, to participate in a friendly match. The ACB said five other civilians also lost their lives in the same incident.

The recent violence marks one of the most serious flare-ups between Afghanistan and Pakistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Both nations have accused each other of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, with Pakistan often citing the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a primary security threat.

Observers warn that unless dialogue yields results, the ongoing military exchanges could further destabilize an already volatile region and worsen the humanitarian situation along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border.