• Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces enter the fourth day with loud blasts in Kabul.
• Afghan officials claim the sound was from their forces targeting Pakistani aircraft.
• Pakistan confirms airstrikes on Afghanistan, claiming significant casualties among Afghan fighters.
• International calls for a ceasefire grow amid escalating violence.
• The conflict risks broader regional instability, drawing in international concerns.

In Kabul on Sunday morning, loud blasts and gunfire were reported amid ongoing clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces, marking the fourth consecutive day of conflict between the two nations. Taliban forces have asserted that they fired upon Pakistani aircraft intruding into Afghan airspace, raising alarms among civilians. "Air defence attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft," said Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, who urged citizens not to be alarmed by the noise, as reported by Channel News Asia and India Times.

The recent escalation has roots in airstrikes initiated by Pakistan, termed "Operation Ghazab Lil Haq," which targeted various Afghan cities, including the capital and Kandahar. Afghan officials have condemned these actions as "cowardly," while Pakistan claims the operation successfully inflicted significant casualties, asserting that 133 Afghan fighters were killed, according to reports from India Times and Al Jazeera.

Casualty figures remain disputed, with Kabul claiming that Pakistani airstrikes have led to civilian fatalities, including women and children. An Afghan deputy government spokesman reported that 55 civilians were killed by Pakistani strikes across various provinces. Meanwhile, despite Kabul indicating a willingness for dialogue, Pakistani officials have rejected these overtures for negotiation, declaring the two countries to be in "open war," according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

International calls for a ceasefire are mounting as violence continues to escalate, and concern grows over broader regional instability. The situation has begun to attract attention from various international bodies, including the EU and the UN, urging both sides to de-escalate tensions, as articulated by reports from Al Jazeera. Observers are wary that the ongoing conflict could easily become overlooked in light of other global geopolitical tensions, particularly with the rising turmoil between the US and Iran.