In the wake of recent air strikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan's Paktika province, Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan has voiced his strong condemnation, labeling the attacks as "immoral and barbaric". The strikes, which occurred late Friday, October 17, 2025, resulted in at least 10 deaths and several injuries, according to Taliban authorities. Local sources reported the strikes hit areas in the Barmal and Argun districts around 8:00 p.m.
Khan expressed particular grief over the loss of three young cricketers in the attacks on civilian housing in Paktika province. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) identified the deceased players as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. According to the ACB, the players had traveled from Urgun to Sharana to participate in a friendly match and were targeted upon their return. The ACB has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming tri-nation T20 series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka as a sign of respect for the victims. The series was scheduled to be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 5 to 29.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan," Khan stated. "A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage. It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure".
The recent violence marks an escalation in the strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a charge Kabul denies. Hours before the strikes, a TTP faction claimed responsibility for an attack in North Waziristan that killed seven Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan claims the air strikes targeted TTP militants. According to a senior security official, the "precision strike" targeted a local group of Taliban fighters, the Gul Bahadur Group, which Islamabad says is given safe haven by Kabul.
Taliban officials told AFP that the ceasefire agreed on Wednesday had been “broken” by Islamabad and warned the group would “retaliate”. A senior Taliban official stated that Pakistan "has broken the cease-fire and bombed three locations in Paktika".
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported 37 deaths and 425 injuries on the Afghan side of the border and called for a lasting end to hostilities.
These recent events follow a series of escalating tensions, including border clashes and accusations of cross-border attacks. A 48-hour ceasefire, which went into effect Wednesday, October 15, expired on Friday evening with no clear path forward. While a diplomatic source claimed the ceasefire was extended until talks in Doha on Saturday, the air strikes suggest otherwise.
