On the night of October 9, 2025, the usually bustling streets of Kabul were rocked by a series of loud explosions, sending ripples of anxiety through Afghanistan’s capital. The first blast struck before 10 p.m. local time in the area of Abdul Haq Square, a district close to several key government ministries and the national intelligence agency. Security forces quickly sealed off the site, and the city’s residents, already accustomed to uncertainty, braced for further news.
As the city buzzed with speculation, Taliban authorities moved to reassure the public. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government’s chief spokesman, took to social media to address concerns, posting on X, “An explosion was heard in Kabul city. But don’t worry, it’s all good and well. The accident is under investigation, and no injuries have been reported yet. So far there is no report of any harm done.” According to the Associated Press, Mujahid’s message was clear: the situation was under control, and there was no immediate cause for alarm.
Despite the official calm, the rumor mill churned. Residents in the Shar-e-Naw neighborhood reported hearing another blast, and some even claimed the sounds came from near Kabul airport. Local news outlets like Amu cited witnesses who described at least two explosions, followed by the unmistakable roar of an aircraft overhead. Reuters journalists on the ground corroborated reports of multiple blasts, with one witness stating they heard two explosions around 9:50 p.m. Yet, as of late Thursday, Taliban officials maintained that only one explosion had been confirmed, and there were still no reports of injuries or damage.
The uncertainty surrounding the incident was only heightened by its timing. The explosions occurred just as Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in India for a week-long diplomatic visit—the first such high-level delegation since the Taliban seized Kabul in August 2021. According to the Hindustan Times, Muttaqi’s visit was set to last until October 16, with Indian officials expressing hope for “engaging discussions on bilateral relations and regional issues.”
But the diplomatic overture was overshadowed by tensions simmering along Afghanistan’s eastern border. Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, issued a stern warning to Kabul, declaring in the National Assembly, “Enough is enough. Our patience has run out.” Asif accused Afghanistan of harboring militants from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a charge that has strained relations between Islamabad and the Taliban regime since 2021. “Afghans have always stood with India, yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Asif asserted, highlighting the deepening distrust between the two neighbors.
Amid these fraught dynamics, speculation swirled about the true cause of the Kabul blasts. Some media outlets, including the Kabul Tribune, suggested the explosions might have been the result of Pakistani strikes targeting Noor Wali Masood, the leader of the TTP. However, as reported by TOLOnews, Masood himself quickly denied any attack in an audio message, and both Taliban officials and Afghan journalists dismissed claims of a Pakistani air operation. The Taliban’s Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated that “no report of any damage has been given so far,” and that investigations were ongoing.
The international response to the incident was swift and cautious. Former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad weighed in on social media, calling any alleged Pakistani strikes in Kabul a “huge escalation” and warning of “dangerous risks.” Khalilzad urged both countries to pursue dialogue rather than military confrontation, stating, “Military escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is not the answer. It is unlikely to work and will increase death and destruction in both countries. There is an alternative with better prospects: negotiations between Kabul and Islamabad to deal with the terrorist sanctuaries on both sides of the Durand line.”
As the dust settled in Kabul, the city’s residents were left with more questions than answers. While the Taliban’s official line remained that there was “no cause for concern,” the lack of clarity about the explosions’ origins fueled unease. The timing of the blasts—coinciding with a high-profile diplomatic mission and escalating rhetoric from Pakistan—only added to the sense of uncertainty.
The broader context is impossible to ignore. Relations between Afghanistan’s Taliban government and Pakistan have been on a downward spiral, marked by border clashes, disputes over the Durand Line, and Pakistan’s recent push to send Afghan refugees back across the border. Islamabad’s accusations that Kabul is sheltering TTP militants have been met with denials and counter-accusations, with each side blaming the other for instability in the region. All the while, ordinary Afghans bear the brunt of the tension, living in a city where the sound of explosions—whether confirmed or rumored—can never be entirely dismissed as harmless.
For now, the official investigation into the Kabul explosions continues, with Taliban authorities maintaining a tight grip on information. The government’s message is one of reassurance, but the reality on the ground remains tense. In the words of Zabihullah Mujahid, “The sound of an explosion was heard in Kabul. The investigation is underway, no report of any damage has been given so far, it is all well and good.” Yet, for many in Kabul and beyond, the question lingers: how long can such reassurances hold in a region where the next crisis often feels just around the corner?
As Afghanistan’s leaders seek new diplomatic footholds and its neighbors issue warnings, the city of Kabul stands as a microcosm of the country’s uncertain future—caught between efforts at normalization and the ever-present risk of violence. The events of October 9 serve as a stark reminder that, in Afghanistan, peace remains fragile and always subject to the unpredictable winds of regional politics.