Blasts heard in Kabul as Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict continues

"Afghanistan's Taliban government said its forces deployed anti-aircraft and missile defence systems against Pakistani jets that entered Afghan airspace early on Sunday morning. This included thwarting an attempted Pakistani strike on Bagram, the former US military base north of Kabul that US President Donald Trump expressed interest in reoccupying last year."

"Islamabad has declared that the two countries are in open war, and on Sunday, its forces were reported to still be holding a 32-square-kilometre (12-mile) area of Afghan territory in the southern Zhob sector, according to two Pakistani security officials."

"Despite the Taliban signalling an openness to negotiations, Pakistan has rejected dialogue. There won't be any talks. There's no dialogue. There's no negotiation, said Mosharraf Zaidi, the Pakistani prime minister's spokesman for foreign media, insisting that Islamabad's sole demand was an end to what it calls Afghanistan-based activities."

Explosions have erupted in Kabul as the Taliban government reports deploying anti-aircraft and missile defense systems against Pakistani jets entering Afghan airspace. Pakistan has declared open war and maintains control of a 32-square-kilometer territory in southern Afghanistan's Zhob sector. Afghan officials report 55 civilian deaths from Pakistani strikes across multiple provinces since Thursday, including casualties from drone strikes and mortar fire. Despite Taliban signals of openness to negotiations, Pakistan has rejected all dialogue, insisting its sole demand is an end to what it characterizes as Afghanistan-based activities. Neither side's casualty claims have been independently verified.

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