KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the drone attack on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates and expressed concern over what it described as an “escalation of violence in the region.”
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement published this afternoon (Monday, May 18) that the ministry “expresses its profound concern over the escalation of violence in the region and, in this regard, condemns the recent drone attacks on civilian facilities in the United Arab Emirates, particularly on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.”
He added that the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “calls on all involved parties to exercise patience and caution; to respect international principles and responsibilities, and to avoid further escalation of violence, so that the ongoing conflicts may be resolved.”
The Barakah nuclear power plant, located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, was targeted in a drone attack yesterday.
The UAE Ministry of Defense announced that a drone struck a generator outside the plant’s inner perimeter, causing a fire.
The ministry had said that three drones entered the country through its western borders, two of which were intercepted, while the third struck the generator at the power plant.
The UAE Ministry of Defense said the source of the attack remains unknown and that investigations are ongoing.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as an “unprovoked terrorist act,” a “dangerous escalation of tensions, an unacceptable act of aggression, and a direct threat to its security,” as well as a clear violation of international law.
The incident has further raised concerns over regional security and the vulnerability of critical civilian infrastructure, underscoring growing calls for diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and preserve stability in the Gulf region.
Over the past several months, regional security has deteriorated significantly as direct confrontation between Iran and Israel has intensified, marking one of the most dangerous periods of instability in recent years. Missile and drone exchanges between the two sides, alongside attacks on strategic infrastructure and heightened military deployments across the Gulf, have raised fears of a broader regional war.
Civilian casualties have been reported in several areas affected by retaliatory strikes, while repeated airspace closures and disruptions to trade routes have further deepened uncertainty. Diplomatic efforts by regional and international actors have so far failed to produce a lasting de-escalation, leaving neighboring countries on high alert amid concerns that further escalation could destabilize the wider Middle East.
At the same time, security tensions involving Afghanistan have also contributed to regional instability. Border frictions between Taliban authorities and neighboring states, particularly Pakistan and Iran, have periodically escalated into armed exchanges, with accusations of cross-border violations and militant activity straining diplomatic relations.
Iran has repeatedly responded to security threats near its eastern borders through military warnings and increased border enforcement, while concerns over militant movements, refugee flows, and humanitarian pressures have added further complexity. These overlapping crises have heightened fears of broader insecurity, with civilian populations often bearing the heaviest burden through displacement, casualties, and worsening economic hardship across an already fragile region.
