Pakistan President Zardari Says Afghan Taliban Crossed ‘Red Line’ With Drone Attacks On Civilians

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 17:17 IST

The Afghan Taliban accused Pakistan of airstrikes in Kabul, killing six civilians. Afghanistan retaliated by targeting Pakistani military sites. China urged peace.

The Afghan Taliban government on Friday accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in Kabul and several areas in eastern Afghanistan, claiming the attacks killed at least six civilians and injured 15 others.

Hours later, authorities in Kabul said Afghanistan’s air force had responded by targeting Pakistani military installations near Islamabad and in parts of northwestern Pakistan.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari sharply criticised the authorities in Kabul over the developments.

“While the Afghan terrorist regime seeks negotiations with our friendly countries, it crossed a red line by attempting to target our civilians," he said.

Islamabad denied deliberately targeting civilians, stating that its operations were aimed at Pakistani Taliban militants and their support networks operating from across the border. Islamabad described the escalating confrontation as an “open war," raising concerns among the international community about regional stability as the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues to widen tensions in the region.

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft also struck fuel depots belonging to the private airline Kam Air near Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan. According to Mujahid, the fuel supplies are used for civilian and United Nations flights.

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government of harbouring militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which Islamabad says carry out attacks inside Pakistan after crossing the porous and volatile border. Pakistani officials have also alleged that Kabul maintains links with India, a claim the Afghan government denies, insisting it does not shelter militant groups.

The escalation came as a roadside bomb targeting Pakistani police killed seven officers in the northwestern district of Lakki Marwat on Friday.

China has also stepped in diplomatically. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged both sides to resolve the dispute peacefully, warning that the use of force could worsen tensions and threaten regional stability. According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, Wang spoke with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday.

Wang said China’s special envoy is shuttling between the two countries to encourage restraint and push for a ceasefire. Muttaqi told Wang that Afghanistan seeks peace in the region and does not want a military conflict, stressing that dialogue remains the only viable solution while urging China to play a larger mediating role.

A Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October had briefly eased tensions between the two neighbours, but follow-up negotiations held in Turkey failed to produce a lasting agreement.

News world Pakistan President Zardari Says Afghan Taliban Crossed ‘Red Line’ With Drone Attacks On Civilians

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