Pakistan’s defence minister has declared that the country is now in an “open war” with Afghanistan, following a series of cross-border airstrikes and military confrontations.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Islamabad’s patience had been exhausted after fresh attacks attributed to Afghan forces. His remarks came after Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Kabul as part of a broader escalation.
Offensive and counter-offensive
The violence intensified after the Afghan Taliban announced a large-scale offensive on Thursday night against Pakistani military positions near the border. The group said it launched a “retaliatory operation” around 20:00 local time, claiming to have seized 19 Pakistani posts and two bases. It also alleged that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, although these figures remain unverified.
Pakistan rejected the claims and accused the Taliban of initiating “unprovoked fire” across several locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to Islamabad, its security forces responded immediately.
In the early hours of Friday, Pakistan launched air raids on Afghan territory, striking targets in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika. Officials described the operation as a response to cross-border aggression. The affected cities lie near the 2,600-kilometre mountainous frontier shared by the two countries.
Military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 22 Afghan military targets were hit and more than 200 Taliban fighters were killed. He added that at least 12 Pakistani soldiers had died.
However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid disputed those figures, stating that 13 Taliban fighters were killed and 22 injured. He also claimed that 13 civilians were wounded, with an unspecified number killed. None of these casualty reports have been independently confirmed.
Drone claims and regional fallout
The Taliban later said it conducted airstrikes inside Pakistan using drones launched from Afghan territory. Pakistan’s Information Minister Atta Tarar said Afghan drones targeting Swabi, Nowshera and Abbottabad were intercepted. Abbottabad hosts a key military academy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that Pakistan’s forces were fully prepared to counter any aggression and vowed there would be “no compromise” in defending the country.
Afghan officials also alleged that Pakistani rockets struck a refugee camp in Nangarhar province, injuring at least nine people. These reports have not been verified.
Despite the intensity of the clashes, local sources in affected Afghan cities indicated that the situation had stabilized by Friday, although both sides remain on high alert.
Diplomatic efforts under way
Amid rising tensions, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held talks with Hakan Fidan and Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, stressing the importance of peace and continued engagement.
Iran has also offered to facilitate dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul, urging both nations to resolve their differences through negotiation.
The latest escalation follows months of intermittent clashes despite a fragile ceasefire agreed in October. Earlier negotiations failed to secure a comprehensive peace arrangement, with both sides accusing each other of lacking commitment.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of backing anti-Pakistan militant groups responsible for attacks inside its territory, including suicide bombings in the capital. Kabul has consistently denied those allegations.
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