Former Afghan President Calls Pakistan Strikes a Violation of International Law

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai today slammed Pakistan for conducting airstrikes on Kabul and Paktita, terming the action a clear violation of international rules. He urged Pakistan to review its misguided and harmful policies and engage with Afghanistan on the basis of friendly and civilized ties. Karzai’s statement comes after multiple explosions in Kabul that residents and observers fear were the result of unprovoked cross-border air strikes. The Afghan capital was shaken as powerful blasts echoed through several neighbourhoods, with witnesses reporting the distinct sounds of aircraft overhead. The explosions, reportedly originating from District 8 in eastern Kabul, an area housing key government officials and residential blocks triggered widespread panic. The incident occurred just hours after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered a fiery statement in the National Assembly, suggesting a breakdown in diplomatic restraint.