Pakistan has declared an “open war” against the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan following cross-border attacks that prompted retaliatory air strikes on Kabul and other cities. Officials from both sides report significant casualties, while journalists on the ground describe explosions and military aircraft over the Afghan capital.
The latest escalation marks a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighbouring states, whose border crossings have largely remained closed since October clashes that left more than 70 people dead.
Islamabad announces military response
The Pakistani government announced that its armed forces carried out overnight strikes on facilities in Afghan territory, including in Kabul and Kandahar. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the operation as an “appropriate response” to an Afghan attack the previous day.
Defence Minister Asif Khawaja stated via X that “the cup of our patience has overflowed” and that an open war was now under way. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the armed forces had full capacity to “crush any aggressive ambitions”, according to a government statement published on X.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said defence positions of the “Afghan Taliban regime” in Kabul and the provinces of Paktia and Kandahar were targeted. He reported at least 133 Taliban fighters killed and more than 200 injured. The same toll was cited by Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sharif.
Afghan response and reported casualties
Journalists from Agence France-Presse in Kabul reported hearing a series of explosions and military aircraft in the early hours. In Kandahar, where Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based, further overflights of fighter jets were reported.
Taliban authorities confirmed the Pakistani air raids but stated that no casualties resulted from the strikes. However, Afghanistan’s defence ministry said eight of its soldiers were killed in a ground assault launched from the provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces had targeted 15 forward Pakistani military positions, killing “dozens” of personnel. Afghan authorities later reported further “large-scale” strikes against Pakistani military positions.
Pakistan’s information ministry accused Taliban forces of opening fire unilaterally on multiple positions along the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Escalation following weekend strikes
The current hostilities follow Pakistani air raids last weekend in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, which Islamabad presented as retaliation for suicide attacks inside Pakistan. According to a source cited by AFP, more than 80 people were killed.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan stated that at least 13 people were killed in those bombings, the deadliest since October. Taliban authorities put the death toll at 18.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring armed groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban authorities deny the allegation.
Breakdown of ceasefire efforts
A ceasefire agreed on 19 October through mediation by Qatar and Turkey collapsed nine days later, after Pakistan accused Afghanistan of orchestrating attacks carried out by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Subsequent negotiation rounds have failed to resolve the dispute. A Saudi intervention secured the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghan fighters, but tensions have continued to rise.
Since October, border crossings have remained closed to most travellers, with passage permitted primarily for Afghan nationals returning home.