The Pakistani military has reportedly carried out strikes on Bagram Air Base, according to satellite images obtained by The New York Times, marking a significant escalation in its conflict with Afghanistan. The base is considered one of the Taliban government’s most important military assets.
Afghan authorities initially claimed that their air defence systems had intercepted the attack. However, satellite imagery showed explosions inside the compound and extensive structural damage. Once the largest US military installation in Afghanistan, Bagram sustained visible destruction in its northern section, with at least one aircraft hangar and two large warehouses reportedly flattened.
A Pakistani military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that multiple strikes were conducted to destroy equipment and supplies but did not provide details about the specific targets.
Residents of the town of Bagram, located about 60 kilometres north of Kabul, reported hearing at least two explosions shortly after 6 am, along with the sound of a jet aircraft. Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry described the incident as an aerial assault but did not specify the scale of the damage.
Officials in Parwan province stated that Pakistani jets entered Afghan airspace around 5 am and attempted to bomb the base. They said Afghan forces responded with anti-aircraft fire and missile defence systems, claiming the attack was thwarted. Pakistan has not publicly commented on that assertion.
The strike followed an earlier Afghan drone attack on Pakistan’s Command and Control Centre at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi. The base had previously been targeted by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor.
Strategic Significance of Bagram
Bagram Air Base holds both symbolic and strategic importance. It served as the central hub of the United States’ 20-year military campaign in Afghanistan before US forces withdrew in 2021. After the withdrawal, it became a symbol of victory for the Taliban, who have used the site to display captured military equipment. The base features Afghanistan’s longest runway, measuring 11,800 feet.
US President Donald Trump has argued that the United States should not have relinquished control of Bagram due to its strategic location near China. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has rejected suggestions of renewed US military presence, stating that Kabul seeks positive relations with Washington without foreign troops on Afghan soil.
The strike comes as cross-border clashes have intensified, with Pakistan declaring it is in “open war” with the Taliban-led administration. Islamabad has reportedly carried out more than 50 airstrikes on Afghan military targets in recent days.
Pakistan maintains that its operations are aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure, accusing the Taliban government of providing safe haven to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has increased attacks inside Pakistan since 2021. Kabul denies supporting the group, despite repeated reports from the United Nations and independent observers citing its presence in Afghanistan.
Diplomatic efforts by countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have so far failed to secure a lasting ceasefire, as tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, known as the Durand Line, continue to escalate.
