Afghan authorities say Pakistani jets entered northern Afghanistan, while Pakistan insists its actions target terrorism, highlighting continued strain after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended.
An official from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence told media that Pakistani aircraft flew over Balkh province, adding that air defence units fired at the jets. No strikes or damage were reported.
Hammad Wisal, spokesperson for the 209 Al-Fath Corps in Balkh, sought to reassure residents. He said air defence forces had responded to aircraft linked to Pakistan’s “military regime” in northern Afghanistan, adding that “there is no need for concern.”
The development coincided with a protest outside the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office in Kabul. Political analysts, university professors and media activists read out a letter before submitting it to the mission.
In the letter, they accused Pakistan of recent attacks against civilians in several Afghan provinces and urged international bodies to act. They called on UNAMA, the UN Security Council, human rights organisations, the International Criminal Court and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to recognise the incidents as “war crimes” and hold perpetrators accountable.
The signatories also demanded that “future actions and provocations by Pakistan must be prevented” and called for an investigation into an attack on a drug treatment centre in Kabul.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, defended Islamabad’s position. He said Pakistan remained committed to “eradicating the menace of terrorism.”
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to eradicate the menace of terrorism,” he said, adding that “Pakistan’s actions inside Afghanistan… are directed towards this goal.”
Afghan authorities have previously condemned Pakistani airstrikes as violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Islamabad accuses Kabul of providing sanctuary to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an allegation Afghan officials deny.
Regional countries, including Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, have attempted mediation in recent months, but no agreement has been reached.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 17th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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The United Nations says it reached millions of Afghans with healthcare, education and livelihoods support in 2025, despite declining global humanitarian aid and mounting pressures from displacement, climate shocks and operational constraints.
The Middle East crisis is reshaping transport choices worldwide, turning electric vehicles from a long-term climate goal into an immediate economic calculation.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Netflix shares fell sharply on Friday after the streaming group issued a weaker-than-expected outlook and said chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings will step down from the board.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that includes Hezbollah, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities after weeks of escalating tensions.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said his country could provide a “safe corridor” and “alternative route” for regional energy shipments, as supply disruptions continue to affect the wider Middle East.
An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to new figures released by UN Women.
China is seeking to strengthen and upgrade its cooperation with Turkmenistan, focusing on what officials describe as “high-quality development” across a range of sectors.
Kazakhstan plans to boost trade with Afghanistan from $500 million to $3 billion, backed by infrastructure and transit projects designed to strengthen regional connectivity and improve access to global markets.
A low-profile diplomatic visit to Tbilisi may prove more consequential than it first appears, as representatives of France, Germany and Poland meet figures across Georgia’s political spectrum, signalling that Brussels is watching closely ahead of a key EU foreign ministers’ meeting.
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