Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government said it opened fire on Pakistani aircraft over Kabul early Saturday after loud explosions and bursts of gunfire rattled the capital, deepening tensions between the two neighbors amid a volatile regional backdrop.

Residents reported hearing powerful blasts before sunrise, followed by sustained gunfire in several parts of the city. A Reuters witness said the exact targets were unclear, and there was no immediate word on casualties or damage.

Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan air defence systems had engaged Pakistani aircraft flying over the capital. “Air defence attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft. Kabul residents should not be concerned,” he said in a statement.

The incident comes after a week of escalating cross-border hostilities. Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of launching strikes against government installations, following Islamabad’s allegations which Kabul denies that Afghan territory is being used to shelter anti-Pakistan militants.

The latest flare-up marks some of the heaviest fighting in years along the roughly 2,600-kilometre frontier, raising fears of a prolonged confrontation between the two countries. According to The STRAITS Times, several regional powers including Qatar and Saudi Arabia have urged both sides to exercise restraint and have offered to mediate efforts toward a ceasefire.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office, Information Ministry and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported air defense action over Kabul.

The confrontation adds to instability across South and West Asia, already unsettled by recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on US-linked targets in Gulf states. Analysts warn that sustained clashes between Kabul and Islamabad could further destabilize border regions where militant groups operate and civilian populations remain vulnerable.

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