Pakistan Conducts Airstrike on Kabul; Taliban’s Response Likely Limited

Kokcha News Agency reports that Pakistani aircraft conducted airstrikes on Kabul last night, marking the first time in history that Pakistan has directly targeted Afghanistan’s capital. The attack comes amid growing tensions between the two nations, particularly over the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan.

According to the Doha Agreement, the Taliban are prohibited from possessing any anti-aircraft capabilities, and control of Afghanistan’s key airports—Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kandahar, and Herat—has been handed over to a consortium led by an Israeli company, 42, alongside American and Emirati firms. This has significantly limited the Taliban’s ability to respond to aerial attacks.

The Taliban’s lack of domestic and international legitimacy further complicates their position. They are unable to register any formal complaints in international forums, and their unpopularity among the Afghan populace limits their ability to mobilize support. Additionally, many high-ranking Taliban members, including Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, have family and business ties in Pakistan, making a strong response unlikely.

Analysts suggest that Pakistan’s airstrike is part of a broader strategy to divert attention from internal issues, particularly the growing separatist movements within Pakistan. The attack is seen as an attempt to frame external threats as the primary concern, rather than addressing the root causes of instability within Pakistan.

The Taliban are expected to use the incident for propaganda purposes, attempting to portray themselves as defenders of Afghanistan. However, their ability to take meaningful political or military action remains severely constrained by their adherence to the Doha Agreement and their lack of legitimacy.