Indonesia Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Pakistan-Afghanistan War

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu), hopes that the conflict that has escalated into war between Afghanistan and Pakistan can be resolved through dialogue.

“Regarding developments between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Indonesia hopes that both countries can resolve their problems peacefully, prioritising dialogue and de-escalation,” said Vahd Nabyl, Spokesperson for the Kemenlu, at the Ministry’s office in Jakarta on Friday, 27 February 2026.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection (PWNI) Heni Hamidah stated that Indonesian nationals (WNI) in Afghanistan are in safe condition following the outbreak of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“All Indonesian nationals in Afghanistan are reported to be in safe condition. Since Indonesian nationals at the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul are not targeted parties in this conflict,” she said.

As a mitigation measure, the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul has also issued an alert to all Indonesian nationals in Afghanistan to increase vigilance and limit travel outside their residential areas. Indonesians have also been advised to avoid government installations and crowded areas in conflict zones.

Relations between the two countries have indeed deteriorated in recent months, with this war marking the peak of their confrontations.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Islamabad and Kabul are now in “open war” following a series of escalating retaliatory clashes.

AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar reported hearing explosions and fighter jets passing overhead until dawn, as Pakistan launched strikes on the Afghan capital and Kandahar, which serves as a power base for Taliban authority in the south.

“Children, women and elderly people were running,” said Gander Khan (65), an Afghan resident who recently returned, standing in front of a row of tents at Omari camp.

An AFP reporter in Kandahar also heard fighter jets flying over the city where Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based.

The situation in Kabul was relatively calm after dawn, coinciding with Friday during Ramadhan, without significant increase in security force presence or checkpoints.