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Pakistan bombs airline fuel depot near kandahar airport, afghan taliban says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
Pakistan carried out airstrikes early March 13 targeting a fuel depot of private airline Kam Air near Kandahar airport, which supplies UN and civilian aviation, marking a sharp escalation amid a brief lull in hostilities despite China’s mediation efforts.
Pakistan Airstrikes Target Kam Air Fuel Depot Near Kandahar Airport, Taliban Says
Escalation of Conflict Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar
Details of the Airstrike
KABUL, March 13 (Reuters) - Pakistan bombed the fuel depot of private airline Kam Air near Afghanistan's Kandahar airport, the Taliban said on Friday, a significant escalation in the worst conflict in years between the neighbours despite China's efforts to mediate.
Recent Mediation Efforts
Following Beijing's stepped up mediation efforts, no Pakistani air strikes were reported by either side in over a week until the bombing in Kandahar. Ground clashes along the 2,600 km (1,600 mile) border had also tapered off, although there had been intermittent bouts of fighting.
Impact on Civilian and UN Operations
"The company (Kam Air) supplies fuel to civilian airlines as well as to United Nations aircraft," Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Further Bombings and Civilian Impact
Pakistan also carried out bombings in other areas, including the capital Kabul, with women and children among those killed as civilian homes were targeted in some locations, he said, adding that the aggression would "not go unanswered".
Pakistani security sources said the military had carried out overnight strikes on four militant hideouts in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia province, including one targeting an oil storage facility at the Kandahar airfield.
Afghan Response
Afghanistan's defence ministry said it carried out drone strikes in response on a Pakistani military base in the northern city of Kohat, causing heavy damage.
Pakistan's military and information ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Background of the Conflict
The fighting erupted last month with Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan that Islamabad said targeted militant strongholds. Afghanistan called the strikes a violation of sovereignty as it launched retaliatory attacks.
Root Causes and Accusations
Militancy has been a bone of contention between allies-turned-foes Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad saying Kabul provides safe haven to militants executing attacks on Pakistan.
The Taliban, however, denies the allegation and says militancy is Pakistan's internal problem.
International Mediation Efforts
Reuters had reported on Thursday that mediation efforts by China, which had been urging an end to the violence, had helped ease the fighting.
Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi had also said that Islamabad and Beijing were engaged in a "dialogue process" on Afghanistan.
(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Saad Sayeed in Bangkok; Additional reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar in Mumbai; Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Key Takeaways
- •The bombing of the Kam Air fuel depot near Kandahar airport signals renewed escalation after a week without Pakistani air strikes following Chinese-led de-escalation efforts (apnews.com).
- •The depot supplies both civilian airlines and United Nations aircraft, underscoring the potential humanitarian and diplomatic ramifications of targeting such infrastructure (apnews.com).
- •This development further complicates regional stability as China pushes to mediate, urging restraint while balancing its security and investment interests amid the intensifying Pakistan–Afghanistan conflict (reutersconnect.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Pakistan bombs airline fuel depot near Kandahar airport, Afghan Taliban says
1What did Pakistan target in the latest airstrike near Kandahar?
Pakistan bombed the fuel depot of private airline Kam Air near Kandahar airport, according to Taliban officials.
2How did Afghanistan respond to the Pakistani airstrikes?
Afghanistan carried out retaliatory drone strikes on a Pakistani military base in the northern city of Kohat, causing significant damage.
3What role is China playing in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict?
China has been mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging an end to the violence and facilitating dialogue.
4Why is there conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan?
The conflict centers around militant groups, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants, which the Taliban denies.
5Were civilians affected by the recent bombings?
Taliban officials reported that some Pakistani bombings targeted civilian homes, resulting in women and children casualties.
