Did Afghanistan bomb Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase? Taliban claims airstrikes on key military sites as tensions rise along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
In a statement posted on X, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence said its air force conducted “precise and coordinated” airstrikes against targets inside Pakistan. (Photo: Social Media)
Did Afghanistan carry out airstrikes deep inside Pakistan? This question has triggered intense debate after Afghanistan’s Taliban-led defence ministry claimed responsibility for attacks on multiple Pakistani military installations, including the high-profile Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi.
In a statement posted on X, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence said its air force conducted “precise and coordinated” airstrikes against targets inside Pakistan. The ministry claimed that the strikes hit several sensitive military locations, though the assertion remains unverified.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
— د ملي دفاع وزارت - وزارت دفاع ملی (@MoDAfghanistan2) March 1, 2026
فَمَنِ اعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ
قوای هوایی وزارت دفاع ملی، امروز بار دیگر حملات هوایی مؤثری را بر پایگاههای مهم نظامی در پاکستان انجام دادند. این حملات پایگاه نورخان در راولپندی،... pic.twitter.com/KQJL4MJEhE
As of publication, Pakistan has not issued an official response confirming or denying the alleged attacks.
According to the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan, the airstrikes targeted:
Afghan officials described the operation as a limited and focused response rather than a broad assault, insisting the strikes were aimed strictly at military infrastructure.
Nur Khan Airbase ranks among Pakistan’s most strategic air force installations. Located close to Rawalpindi and Islamabad, it plays a key logistical and operational role for the Pakistan Air Force.
The base has featured prominently during earlier periods of regional tension. It reportedly sustained damage during India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025, after which Pakistan carried out restoration and reinforcement work. Any reported strike on the base immediately raises regional security concerns.
Afghan officials said the strikes came in response to recent Pakistani air operations targeting Kabul and Bagram. The Taliban administration described Pakistan’s actions as violations of Afghan sovereignty and framed its own response as defensive.
The defence ministry warned that further breaches of Afghan airspace would invite “swift and decisive” retaliation, signalling a tougher posture from Kabul.
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have risen sharply in recent weeks. Pakistan recently described the situation along the border as “open war” following clashes between security forces and cross-border incidents.
Islamabad had earlier confirmed air operations in Kabul and Kandahar, citing security threats and militant activity. The Taliban government strongly condemned those strikes, accusing Pakistan of targeting Afghan territory without justification.
So far, Pakistani authorities have remained silent on the Taliban’s airstrike claims. Analysts say this lack of confirmation leaves several unanswered questions, including whether the strikes occurred at all or whether they caused any damage.
If verified, the alleged airstrikes would mark a serious escalation between the two neighbours, pushing the region into uncharted territory. For now, uncertainty surrounds the claims, but the rhetoric from both sides suggests that tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border are far from easing.
As regional observers wait for official confirmation, one question continues to dominate headlines: Did Afghanistan really bomb Nur Khan Airbase in Pakistan?
