Former Afghan Leaders Karzai and Abdullah Condole Death of Iran's Supreme Leader

Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, and Abdullah Abdullah, former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, expressed condolences over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to reports, the United States and Israel carried out joint attacks on several Iranian cities on Saturday, resulting in the killing of Khamenei and several senior officials. Karzai wrote on his X account: "I appreciate the continuous support of the Afghan people for him and announce my solidarity with the noble people of Iran. I pray for the martyrs of this incident and wish peace, security, and progress for the friendly and brotherly country of Iran." Abdullah wrote on Facebook: "With great sorrow, the martyrdom of Iran's leader, some family members and companions, and the recent martyrs has caused us deep grief." He prayed for patience and reward for the victims' families and Iranian people.

Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan peace, stated in a recent interview that Pakistan's military leadership holds an incorrect analysis of Afghanistan and seeks to impose demands by force. He referenced recent Pakistani army attacks on Afghan soil, calling Pakistan's demands unreasonable and designating Pakistan "criminal" in this context. Khalilzad warned of Afghan concerns over Daesh presence in Pakistan and said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is ready for an agreement to prevent mutual use of territories against each other, advocating diplomacy.

Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense announced that its air forces conducted effective strikes on Sunday on Pakistan's Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi, 12th Corps in Quetta, Balochistan, Khwizo camp in Mohmand Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and military positions in Ghazni, inflicting significant damage. The ministry stated these were in response to Pakistani air violations targeting Kabul, Bagram, and other areas the previous night and today, vowing severe retaliation to further transgressions.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, reported that Pakistani night attacks targeted residential areas in Nangarhar's Ghani Khel district and Paktia province around 11 p.m., destroying four homes and killing and wounding an unspecified number of civilians, which he described as continued crimes against humanitarian principles.