ALBAWABA- Two powerful explosions jolted central Kabul late Thursday night, sparking panic among residents and fueling reports of a precision airstrike that may have killed a senior Pakistani militant leader.
The blasts, which occurred around 9:50 p.m. Local time near the capital’s international airport and the Shahre Nau district, shook nearby buildings and sent security forces rushing to seal off the area.
Eyewitnesses described hearing aircraft overhead moments before the explosions, followed by sporadic gunfire and sirens echoing through the city.
“The ground trembled twice — everyone ran into the streets,” said one resident near the airport. Initial reports indicated no civilian casualties, though several bystanders sustained minor injuries while fleeing the scene.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid downplayed the incident, insisting “everything is under control” and confirming an investigation was underway.
However, Afghan media outlets and regional intelligence sources told local journalists that the blasts were caused by a suspected drone strike targeting a safe house believed to be sheltering Noor Wali Mehsud, the elusive leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
If confirmed, Mehsud’s death would mark a major blow to the TTP, which has carried out dozens of attacks across Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months.
The militant group’s growing rift with the Afghan Taliban, once its ally, has sparked deadly skirmishes along the border, raising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
