Islamabad/Kabul – February 27, 2026 – Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a critical juncture, with Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declaring an “open war” against the Taliban-led government following a series of cross-border military exchanges that included Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan targets, including the capital Kabul.
The latest escalation began late Thursday when Afghan forces, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military positions along the disputed Durand Line border. The Afghan side described the actions as retaliatory, stemming from prior Pakistani airstrikes on alleged militant camps in eastern Afghanistan.
In response, Pakistan’s armed forces conducted overnight airstrikes early Friday under what officials termed “Operation Ghazab Lil Haqq” (Righteous Fury). Targets included Taliban military installations, posts, and headquarters in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia province. Explosions were reported in Kabul, with eyewitness accounts of jets overhead and subsequent gunfire in several areas. Pakistani officials claimed the strikes destroyed 27 Afghan military posts, captured nine others, and resulted in over 130 Taliban fighters killed and more than 200 wounded. These casualty figures remain unverified independently and are disputed by Afghan authorities, who reported no significant losses and accused Pakistan of targeting civilian areas.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), asserted that Pakistan’s “patience has run out” after repeated diplomatic efforts and alleged provocations. “Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan),” Asif wrote. He accused the Taliban of harboring militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and claimed Afghanistan had become a base for exporting terrorism while denying its people basic rights.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed the sentiment, warning that the country’s armed forces possess “the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions.” The conflict marks a sharp breakdown of a fragile ceasefire mediated by Qatar in late 2025, following months of tit-for-tat shelling, mortar fire, and limited airstrikes.
The Afghan Taliban government has portrayed its operations as defensive, aimed at protecting sovereignty along the border. Mujahid confirmed Pakistani strikes on Kabul and other locations but provided limited details on casualties or damage. Both sides have reported heavy losses in ground clashes along multiple border sectors, though exact accounts vary widely.
This escalation revives longstanding grievances: Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of sheltering anti-Pakistan militants, while the Taliban deny the charges and criticize Pakistani incursions. The 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) Durand Line remains a flashpoint, undemarcated in parts and a source of historical dispute.
International reactions have included calls for immediate de-escalation. Iran has offered mediation, while the United Nations and other stakeholders urged restraint to prevent a broader regional crisis. Analysts warn that prolonged fighting could destabilize both nations further, exacerbate humanitarian issues, and draw in neighboring powers.
The situation remains highly fluid, with reports of ongoing skirmishes along the border as of Friday afternoon. Military analysts note that while this does not yet constitute a full-scale ground invasion, the direct airstrikes on major urban centers like Kabul represent a significant intensification beyond previous limited engagements.
Further developments are being closely monitored, as both sides appear prepared for continued confrontation unless urgent diplomatic intervention succeeds.
