Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict: Indonesian Citizens in Afghanistan Reported Safe
JAKARTA — The Acting Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection (PWNI) at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hamidah, has confirmed that no Indonesian citizens have become casualties in the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“All Indonesian citizens in Afghanistan are reported to be in safe condition. Since the Indonesian personnel at the Embassy in Kabul are not targeted parties in this conflict,” Hamidah stated during a press conference on Friday (27 February 2026).
She noted that currently 43 Indonesian nationals reside in Afghanistan, 15 of whom are members of the extended family of the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul. Indonesian citizens have been instructed to avoid government installations and crowded public spaces in conflict areas.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Vahd Nabyl, added that Indonesia is advocating for conflict resolution through dialogue. He emphasised that the Indonesian government must also prioritise the safety of civilians, particularly Indonesian nationals in both countries.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict erupted on Friday (27 February 2026) following airstrikes launched by Pakistani forces against several major cities, including the Afghan capital Kabul. Relations between the two nations had deteriorated over recent months, with this military confrontation representing the culmination of escalating tensions.
AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar reported explosions and fighter jets passing overhead until dawn, as Pakistan attacked Afghanistan’s capital and Kandahar, a key Taliban stronghold in the south. At the Torkham border crossing, AFP reporters heard gunfire at approximately 09:30 local time, with one Afghan refugee camp returning from Pakistan affected by fighting the previous night.
AFP correspondents in Kandahar also reported fighter jets over the city where Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based. Conditions in Kabul remained relatively calm following dawn, coinciding with Friday prayers during Ramadan, without significant increases in security personnel or checkpoints.