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Pakistan Bombs Afghan Fuel Depot Near Kandahar, Escalating Border War

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of bombing fuel depots belonging to the private airline Kam Air near Kandahar Airport. The attack is part of escalating cross-border strikes, with Pakistan's defence minister declaring an "open war" and accusing the Taliban of harboring terrorists like the TTP. Recent clashes have resulted in civilian casualties, including four family members killed in Khost province. India has condemned the Pakistani airstrikes, reiterating support for Afghanistan's sovereignty.

Key Points: Pakistan Airstrikes Hit Afghan Fuel Depot, Taliban Accuses Attack

  • Pakistan airstrike hits Kam Air fuel depot
  • Civilian casualties reported in shelling
  • Tensions over Durand Line and Taliban rule
  • Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring TTP
  • India condemns strikes, backs Afghan sovereignty
2 min read

Afghan Govt says Pakistan has bombed fuel depot of private airline near Kandahar Airport

Taliban says Pakistan bombed a private airline's fuel depot near Kandahar Airport, escalating cross-border strikes and tensions over the Durand Line.

"Pakistan's cup of patience has overflowed. - Khawaja Asif"

Kabul, March 13

Pakistan Air Forces have struck the fuel depots belonging to the private airline Kam Air near Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Friday.

In a post on X, he said that this company provides fuel materials for domestic airlines as well as for United Nations aircraft. Zabihullah Mujahid also accused Pakistan of previously attacking the fuel storage of a national trader named Haji Khan Zadah.

Meanwhile Pakistan's military targeted various areas of the Alisher-Terezai district of Khost province, near the Hypothetical Durand Line, with artillery fire, as per TOLO News. Four members of one family were killed, and three others were injured as a result of the shelling.

This comes amid an increasing exchange of airstrikes between Pakistan and Afghanistan along the Durand Line in February. Pakistan launched air strikes on Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, and other cities, as clashes escalate along the two countries' shared border.

On February 27, Pakistan launched airstrikes targeting Kabul and other Afghan cities. Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, declared an "open war," stating that Pakistan's "cup of patience has overflowed." He accused the Taliban of harbouring global terrorists and exporting militancy.

The Afghan Ministry of National Defence claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations along the Durand Line on February 26.

The Durand Line dispute and the Taliban's return to power in 2021 have fueled tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with frequent clashes reported.

In particular, Pakistan wants the Taliban to rein in armed groups such as the Pakistan Taliban, known by its acronym TTP, which it says Afghanistan is harbouring. The TTP emerged in Pakistan in 2007 and is separate from the Taliban in Afghanistan, but shares deep ideological, social and linguistic ties with the group, as per Al Jazeera.

Armed attacks in Pakistan by the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which operates in the resource-rich Balochistan province, have surged in recent years. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan, have borne the brunt of the violence.

India strongly condemned Pakistan's airstrikes in Afghan territory, specifically noting the civilian casualties (including women and children) during Ramadan and reiterated its support for Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
This is heartbreaking. Four members of one family killed? During Ramadan? The human cost of these border clashes is unbearable. My thoughts are with all civilians caught in the crossfire. 😔
A
Arjun K
Pakistan's "cup of patience has overflowed"? What about the decades of patience Afghanistan has needed with its interference? The Durand Line was always a British-imposed problem. Now Pakistan is reaping what it sowed by supporting extremist groups for strategic depth.
P
Priya S
While Pakistan's aggression is wrong, let's not pretend the Taliban government is blameless. Harboring groups like TTP that attack neighbors is a recipe for disaster. The Afghan people deserve peace, not more conflict fueled by these proxy games.
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Vikram M
The article mentions India's support for Afghan sovereignty. This is crucial. Stability in Afghanistan is directly linked to security in our region. We have a historical and cultural connection with the Afghan people, unlike Pakistan which has only brought them trouble.
K
Karthik V
Airstrikes on the capital? This is getting out of hand. The international community needs to step in and mediate before this turns into a full-blown war. The focus should be on humanitarian aid and dialogue, not more bombing.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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