Kabul Calm After Pakistani Airstrikes as Islamic Emirate Launches Retaliatory Strikes

Kabul residents described the city as calm and stable following overnight airstrikes by Pakistan's military on the capital, with daily life proceeding normally on Friday morning without fear. Markets, commercial centers and main roads saw usual traffic, economic activities continued routinely, and families attended to daily affairs amid a positive public mood and sense of assurance.

Some Kabul residents expressed support for retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Emirate across the Durand Line, stating Afghanistan is on a path to self-sufficiency and has no need for ties with Pakistan.

Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defense reported that Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, captured several others, and seized two military bases along with 19 posts. The ministry said eight Afghan soldiers were martyred and 11 wounded in the clashes. Separately, 13 civilians were wounded in a Pakistani rocket attack on a returnees' camp in Nangarhar province.

The ministry detailed that Afghan airstrikes targeted a military camp near Faizabad Islamabad, bases in Nu'shehr and Jamrud, and a site in Abbottabad around 11 a.m. local time Friday. It described the operations as successful, hitting key Pakistani military facilities in response to Pakistan's strikes on Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held phone talks with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

Residents from Baghlan, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces voiced national solidarity against what they called Pakistani aggression, pledging support for Afghan security forces and readiness to stand against Pakistan if the Islamic Emirate leader calls for jihad. Some compared Pakistan's actions to Israel's attacks on Gaza during Ramadan, labeling Pakistan an enemy of Islam and Afghans.