Pakistan escalated tensions with Afghanistan on February 27, 2026, launching air strikes on major Afghan cities, including the capital, Kabul.
Islamabad’s Defence Minister announced that the two neighbours are now at “open war” following months of tit-for-tat clashes along the border.
AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar reported hearing loud blasts and fighter jets overhead from late night until dawn.
The strikes targeted Afghan Taliban defence sites in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar provinces, according to Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the attacks as an “all-out confrontation” with the Taliban government.
Breaking Ceasefire and Border Violence
The air strikes came after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani troops near the border, responding to previous Pakistani operations.
Relations have deteriorated since October 2025, when deadly clashes killed over 70 people.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
International mediation efforts, led by Qatar, Turkey, and recently Saudi Arabia, have failed to produce a lasting ceasefire.
Iran has also offered to facilitate dialogue to prevent further escalation. Both Afghan and Pakistani forces reported casualties during recent border clashes, including the deaths of several soldiers and injuries to civilians near the Torkham crossing.
Civilian Impact and Taliban Response
In Kabul, streets were quiet during the morning hours of Ramadan, while the Taliban confirmed the strikes with no immediate casualties reported.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid warned of “large-scale operations” in retaliation for Pakistani violations.
Meanwhile, UN officials reported that previous Pakistani strikes in Nangarhar and Paktika killed at least 13 civilians.
This escalation represents one of the most dangerous developments in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in recent years, threatening regional stability.
