From Explosion to Rumours: A Tense Night in Kabul

DID Press: On Thursday night, Kabul experienced hours of confusion and tension — a night that began with the sound of an explosion and unfolded through a wave of speculation and rumours across social media. The episode highlighted how psychological and media-driven anxiety can sometimes outweigh any actual security threat.

Local sources reported hearing an explosion in parts of Afghanistan capital Kabul, while social media users posted about what they described as a series of “multiple blasts.”

In response, Taliban authorities sought to calm public anxiety. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid assured residents there was “no cause for concern,” adding that investigations were under way. Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s Interior Ministry, said only one explosion had occurred and denied reports of gunfire.

Nevertheless, rumours spread rapidly online. Some users circulated old images of the 2020 Beirut blast, falsely linking them to Kabul incident. Others claimed the explosion was the result of a Pakistani airstrike targeting Noor Wali Mehsud, the leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). No official sources have confirmed these claims.

An audio clip, allegedly from Mehsud himself, later appeared online, in which he claimed to be alive and denied reports of his death — though the authenticity of the recording has not yet been verified.

Analysts say public anxiety in Kabul was driven less by the explosion itself and more by public distrust and the viral speed of misinformation on social media — revealing how official and unofficial narratives can shape public perception in very different ways.

In the end, one question remains: Who writes Kabul’s story — the Taliban’s official narrative, or the fast-moving stream of social media rumours?