Pakistan declared open war on Afghanistan Friday after launching airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces. The move came hours after Afghan forces hit Pakistani positions along the 1,600-mile Durand Line border. Both countries claim hundreds dead. Tensions stem from accusations of harboring militants.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said patience is gone, calling it 'open war' on social media.
- Afghanistan launched large-scale attacks on six Pakistani border provinces, claiming 19 outposts captured.
- Casualties unverified: Pakistan reports 274 Afghan fighters killed; Afghanistan says 55 Pakistani soldiers dead.
- Iran, EU, and US urge talks as fighting disrupts key border crossings like Torkham.
Background
The Durand Line has sparked fights for years. Drawn in 1893, neither side fully accepts it. Afghanistan sees it as a colonial leftover. Pakistan guards it tight. Refugees add fuel. Millions of Afghans live in Pakistan. Islamabad wants them back. Crossings close often over disputes.
Trouble ramped up in February. Terror attacks hit Pakistan hard. A suicide bomb in Islamabad killed 36 at a Shiite mosque. Bajaur checkpoint lost 11 soldiers and a child. Pakistan blamed militants hiding in Afghanistan. On February 21, Pakistani jets struck Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces. They targeted seven camps of Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and ISIS-K. Pakistan said over 80 militants died. Afghanistan reported 18 civilians dead, including 11 kids in one spot.
Taliban denied sheltering foes. They vowed revenge. UNAMA confirmed strikes but said no civilian deaths in Paktika. Tensions cooled a bit. Then on February 24, gunfire erupted again. Both blamed the other. Shahkot area saw first shots from Pakistan, one Afghan official said.
February 26 changed everything. Taliban announced big offensive on Pakistani posts along Durand. They hit six provinces late Thursday. Pakistan admitted two soldiers killed. Afghanistan claimed 55. Pakistan called it lies. Jets roared back early Friday. Explosions rocked Kabul. Witnesses heard jets overhead. No Taliban casualty reports yet.
Pakistan named the response Operation Ghazab Lil Haqq, or Wrath for the Truth. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said no mercy. History repeats. October saw bad clashes. Dozens died then too. A shaky Qatar ceasefire held briefly. Now it's worse. Worst since Taliban took Kabul in 2021.
And superpowers watch close. Region matters for trade routes. Minerals too. China builds roads. US left but eyes terror groups. Russia steps in now. Kremlin calls for calm between allies.
Key Details
Pakistan's strikes hit military spots, they say. Two brigade bases gone in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed jets over those areas. Explosions in Kabul parts. No deaths reported by them yet.
Afghan push claimed 19 Pakistani outposts. Fighting in Bajaur, North Waziristan, others. Torkham crossing shut again. Trucks wait. People stuck. Refugees flee both ways.
Casualty counts clash. Pakistan: 274 Taliban dead. Afghanistan: eight own soldiers lost, 55 Pakistanis gone. No independent check. Taliban blocks photos from strike zones. One ex-council head in Paktia called Pakistani bombs huge. Said many likely hurt.
Defence Minister Asif posted on X.
"Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you."
- Khawaja Asif, Pakistan Defence Minister
Prime Minister Sharif backed it. No leniency, he warned. Taliban said their attacks answer Pakistani 'provocations.' Mujahid posted too.
"In response to repeated provocations and violations by Pakistani military circles, large-scale offensive operations have been launched."
- Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban Spokesman
Border sees more buildup. Troops mass. Artillery booms. Drones spotted. Civilians run. Schools close near line. Aid groups warn of hunger if crossings stay shut.
Casualty and Strike Breakdown
- Pakistan strikes (Feb 21): Nangarhar (Behsud, Khogyani), Paktika (Barmal, Urgun), Khost. 80+ militants claimed dead.
- Afghan retaliation (Feb 26): Six provinces. 19 outposts said taken.
- Pakistan counter (Feb 27): Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia. Brigades hit.
World reacts. US backs Pakistan's self-defense. Iran pushes dialogue. EU same. Russia intervenes. All fear wider war. For more on regional tensions, see our coverage of Afghanistan launches major retaliatory strike against Pakistan and Pakistan declares open war with Afghanistan after border strikes.
What This Means
Open war risks spill over. Tribes straddle border. Pashtuns on both sides. Loyalty splits. Militants exploit chaos. TTP grows bold. ISIS-K too. Pakistan fears attacks inside. Afghanistan calls strikes sovereignty hits.
Economy hurts. Trade halts. Torkham handles billions yearly. Food, fuel stuck. Prices jump. Refugees strain camps. Pakistan hosts 1.4 million registered Afghans. More unregistered. Deportations paused now. Fighting blocks returns.
Global eyes turn. China worries CPEC road. India watches quiet. US says Pakistan right to defend. But Taliban once allies against al-Qaeda. Now foes. Russia sells arms to both? Kremlin talks peace.
Longer fight drains both. Pakistan stretched by floods, economy woes. Taliban rules rough. No recognition. Aid thin. Hunger rises. Strikes hit farms, roads. Winter bites.
Refugee flows grow. Pakistan shut borders before. Now open war changes that. Neighbors brace. Iran hosts Afghans too. Turkey eyes migrants. Europe far but feels echo.
Diplomacy scrambles. Qatar tried before. Failed. UNAMA watches. Calls verify deaths. Superpowers pull strings. Peace deal? Tough. Trust gone. Patience zero.
Border stays hot. More strikes likely. Taliban promises response. Pakistan vows more ops. Cycle spins. End near? Doubt it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Durand Line?
The Durand Line is the 1,600-mile border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, drawn in 1893 by British and Afghan leaders. Afghanistan never fully agreed to it. Clashes happen often over it.
Why did Pakistan launch airstrikes?
Pakistan said the strikes targeted Taliban military sites and militant camps after Afghan attacks and recent terror hits inside Pakistan. They blame Afghanistan for sheltering groups like TTP.
Are casualty numbers confirmed?
No. Both sides give different counts. Pakistan claims 274 Afghan dead. Afghanistan says 55 Pakistani soldiers killed. No independent reports verify yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Durand Line?
The Durand Line is the 1,600-mile border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, drawn in 1893 by British and Afghan leaders. Afghanistan never fully agreed to it. Clashes happen often over it.
Why did Pakistan launch airstrikes?
Pakistan said the strikes targeted Taliban military sites and militant camps after Afghan attacks and recent terror hits inside Pakistan. They blame Afghanistan for sheltering groups like TTP.
Are casualty numbers confirmed?
No. Both sides give different counts. Pakistan claims 274 Afghan dead. Afghanistan says 55 Pakistani soldiers killed. No independent reports verify yet.
