Blasts heard in Kabul amid clashes between Afghanistan, Pakistani forces

Blasts and ​gunfire were heard in Kabul on Sunday (March 1, 2026), ‌a Reuters journalist in the ​Afghan capital said, as fighting ⁠between Afghanistan and Pakistan entered a fourth day.

Explosions echoed across parts of the ‌city before sunrise, followed by bursts of gunfire, the journalist ‌said.

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It was not immediately ‌clear ⁠what had been targeted or whether ⁠there were casualties.

Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the sounds were the result of ​Afghan forces ‌targeting Pakistani aircraft over the capital.

“Air defence attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft. Kabul residents ‌should not be concerned,” Mr. Mujahid said.

Pakistan’s ​Prime Minister’s office, information ministry and military did not respond ⁠to requests for comment.

The violence follows air strikes inside Afghanistan ‌this week that Pakistan said targeted militant infrastructure. Afghanistan described the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and announced retaliatory operations along their shared border.

Both sides have reported ‌heavy losses, issuing differing casualty figures that Reuters ​has not been able to independently verify.

The engagement is among ⁠the neighbours’ most violent in years and ⁠raises fear of a broader conflict along their 2,600 ‌km (1,615 mile) frontier.