The recent escalation of tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan has taken a tragic turn, drawing condemnation from prominent Afghan figures, particularly in the world of cricket. Following airstrikes on October 17, 2025, in Afghanistan's Paktika province that resulted in the deaths of at least three local cricketers and several other civilians, leading Afghan stars, including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, have voiced their outrage.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the deaths of Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, stating that they were killed in what it described as a "cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime". The cricketers were reportedly returning home to Urgun after participating in a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province.

In response to the incident, the ACB has withdrawn from the upcoming tri-nation T20I series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, scheduled for November. The ACB called the withdrawal "a gesture of respect to the victims".

Afghanistan's cricket captain, Rashid Khan, expressed his grief and condemned the attacks on social media, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure "absolutely immoral and barbaric" and a grave violation of human rights. He also supported the ACB's decision to withdraw from the tri-series, stating that "our national dignity must come before all else".

Former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi also shared a heartfelt message, lamenting the loss of the "heroic players" and calling the incident a "big grief not only for Paktika, but for the entire Afghan cricket family and nation". Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi described the killings as a "heinous, unforgivable crime". Gulbadin Naib also condemned the attack.

The airstrikes that killed the cricketers are part of a broader escalation of conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan has claimed that it is targeting hideouts of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, inside Afghanistan. However, the Afghan government denies harboring the TTP.

Reports indicate that the October 17 airstrikes in Paktika province killed at least ten civilians and injured a dozen more. A senior Taliban official stated that Pakistan had broken a ceasefire that had brought two days of calm to the border region. The official also warned that "Afghanistan will retaliate".

The clashes and airstrikes have led to a significant deterioration in relations between the two countries. Cross-border violence has escalated, with both sides accusing the other of initiating attacks. The United Nations has called for an immediate end to hostilities to protect civilians and prevent further loss of life.