Pakistan has launched major airstrikes deep inside Afghanistan, including in Kabul and several eastern and southern provinces, marking a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the two neighboring countries. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that the conflict had reached the level of “open war,” saying Islamabad had run out of patience after Afghan Taliban forces launched attacks on Pakistani military positions along the disputed border.
Pakistani forces used fighter jets, artillery, and heavy weapons to strike what they described as Taliban military installations and positions. Pakistan claimed that hundreds of Afghan fighters had been killed and dozens of military posts destroyed. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban government rejected those claims, accusing Pakistan of targeting civilian areas, including homes and refugee camps, and reported dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children.
In response to the airstrikes, Afghan forces launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military bases and border outposts. Both sides reported casualties, though the exact numbers remain unclear and cannot be independently verified. Fighting has also forced civilians to flee border areas, while key crossings such as Torkham have seen displacement, shortages of food, and growing humanitarian concerns as families struggle to escape the violence.
The latest escalation follows months of rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, largely driven by Pakistan’s accusations that Afghanistan is sheltering the Pakistani Taliban, known as TTP, which Islamabad blames for attacks inside its territory. Afghanistan has denied these accusations, while analysts warn that continued military confrontation could further destabilize the region.
International leaders and the United Nations have urged both sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue to avoid a wider war. With airstrikes, cross-border attacks, and ongoing military operations, the situation remains highly volatile, raising fears of prolonged conflict and increasing risks for civilians living along the border.
