Afghanistan Claims It Stopped Pakistani Jets From Bombing Former US Base

Afghan officials say they prevented Pakistani military aircraft from striking Bagram Air Base, the former major US military installation. The incident marks the fourth day of escalating border conflicts between the two neighboring countries.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan authorities reported Sunday they successfully prevented Pakistani military aircraft from conducting bombing runs against Bagram Air Base, the once-major American military installation located north of Kabul, as border hostilities between the two nations entered their fourth consecutive day.

The current hostilities represent the most intense military confrontations between these neighboring countries in recent years, with Pakistan’s leadership stating the nations are engaged in “open war.” International observers have expressed growing concern about the escalating violence, especially given the region’s continued presence of extremist organizations such as al-Qaida and ISIS, which have been attempting to regain influence.

Pakistani officials have accused Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership of providing sanctuary to militant organizations that launch attacks on Pakistani soil, while also claiming Afghanistan has formed partnerships with Pakistan’s longtime adversary, India. Previous border skirmishes in October resulted in numerous fatalities among military personnel, civilians, and suspected militants before Qatar helped broker a temporary ceasefire. However, multiple diplomatic discussions held in Turkey during November failed to establish a permanent peace agreement, and sporadic exchanges of gunfire have occurred since then.

According to a Sunday statement from Parwan province’s police command, where Bagram is situated, multiple Pakistani warplanes violated Afghan airspace “and attempted to bomb Bagram Air Base” around 5 a.m. The statement indicated that Afghan military units deployed “anti-aircraft and missile defense systems” and successfully prevented the assault.

Pakistani officials have not yet responded to these allegations.

Bagram served as America’s primary military installation throughout its Afghanistan operations. Taliban forces assumed control of the facility during their rapid territorial gains following the disorganized American military departure in 2021. Former President Donald Trump indicated last year his interest in reestablishing American operations at the location.

The present conflict erupted when Afghan forces initiated extensive cross-border operations Thursday evening, claiming the actions were retaliation for Pakistani aerial bombardments conducted the previous Sunday.

Pakistan had stated its airstrikes targeted the banned Pakistani Taliban organization, known as TTP. Afghan officials maintained that only civilian casualties resulted from those strikes.

The TTP militant organization, while distinct from Afghanistan’s governing Taliban, maintains close ties with the ruling group and conducts operations within Pakistan, where authorities blame the group for hundreds of deaths through bombing campaigns and other violent attacks spanning multiple years. Pakistani leadership accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of offering protected territory within Afghanistan for TTP operations, which Afghan officials reject.

Following Thursday’s Afghan military action, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif announced that “our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us.”

Throughout the ongoing hostilities, both nations claim to have eliminated hundreds of opposing forces while reporting significantly lower casualty figures for their own military units.

Afghan representatives confirmed that combat operations continued through the night and into Sunday across border regions.

Said Tayyeb Hammad, spokesman for Nangarhar province’s police command, reported that anti-aircraft missiles were deployed from the provincial capital Jalalabad and nearby locations against Pakistani fighter aircraft conducting overflights Sunday morning.

Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatulah Khowarazmi stated that Afghan military units conducted sniper counterattacks across the border from Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost and Kandahar provinces during overnight operations. He alleged that two Pakistani unmanned aircraft were destroyed and numerous Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat reported that Pakistani drone strikes targeted civilian residences in Nangarhar province late Saturday evening, resulting in the deaths of one woman and one child, while mortar fire killed another civilian when it struck a home in Paktia province.

Pakistani officials have not immediately addressed these allegations.