The BRICS TimesPakistani forces also targeted Afghanistan’s Khost and Kandahar areas. These strikes resulted in a total of 12 fatalities and over 100 injuries across those regions.
Major Blast Shakes Kabul’s Khairkhana Kotel Area
A massive blast rocked Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, on Wednesday (October 15, 2025). The explosion occurred around 4:38 PM IST. Fire and thick smoke plumes quickly engulfed the area. Specifically, this blast happened in Kabul’s Khairkhana Kotel vicinity. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid commented shortly after. At 4:53 PM, he stated the Kabul blast was not linked to the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict. He initially attributed the explosion to a parked oil tanker that blew up.
Pakistani Military Releases Aerial Video Footage
The blast site was chaotic, filled with fire and smoke. Authorities immediately cordoned off the entire area. Fire tenders were deployed to bring the massive blaze under control. Post-extinguishment, the charred remains of the oil tanker were clearly visible. Later, at 7:00 PM, the Pakistani military released an aerial video. They claimed the blast in Kabul was due to their airstrike. They asserted they targeted a Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) stronghold.
Afghan Official Contradicts Pakistan’s Claim
Soon after the Pakistani military’s video release, a strong contradiction emerged. Mufti Abdullah Azam is the Chief of Staff for Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. He shared a video on X (formerly Twitter). Azam alleged the Pakistani military’s Kabul airstrike hit a group of locals. He claimed several ordinary citizens were killed in the attack. Azam accused Pakistan of taking revenge on common people. However, Azam deleted his post from the X site within a few hours.
Casualties Mount: 17 Civilian Deaths, Over 140 Injured
Afghan media confirmed the attack in Kabul. They reported that Pakistan conducted two separate airstrikes in Kabul. This happened even as both nations were discussing a ceasefire agreement. The Emergency Hospital released a statement on the Pakistani attack. They confirmed 5 deaths and over 40 injuries in the Kabul incident. Pakistan also hit residential areas in Khost and Kandahar today. Those attacks killed 12 more civilians and injured over 100 people. This means 17 civilians have lost their lives in the last 24 hours. More than 140 people have been injured due to Pakistani attacks on residential areas.
Pakistan’s Pattern of Targeting Civilians
The Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict has seen a repeated pattern. During the first phase on Saturday (October 11, 2025), Pakistan targeted civilian homes and markets. Pakistan repeated this behavior on Wednesday (October 15). In contrast, the Afghan military has only targeted the Pakistani army in this conflict. This is not the first time Pakistan has targeted human settlements during a conflict. They showed similar conduct during ‘Operation Sindoor’. At that time, in response to Indian attacks on their airbases, the Pakistani army targeted Indian residential areas. Furthermore, the Pakistani army and security agencies have killed over 329 people within their own country in the past 50 days.
