ISLAMABAD/KABUL — Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply escalated into what Pakistan’s defence minister described as “open war,” following a series of cross‑border airstrikes and retaliatory attacks that have reverberated across the disputed frontier.
According to Pakistani officials, air‑to‑ground missiles struck Taliban government military installations in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia early Friday. Islamabad said the strikes were aimed at “unprovoked Afghan attacks” and alleged they killed 133 Taliban fighters, wounded more than 200 and destroyed 27 militant positions. Afghan authorities confirmed the raids but disputed the casualty figures, saying they inflicted heavy losses on Pakistani forces, including 55 soldiers killed and 19 military posts captured.
“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan),” Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declared, signaling a major escalation in hostilities.
Latest Escalation and Retaliation
Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistan’s aerial strikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia but did not provide casualty estimates. Kabul’s Ministry of Defence meanwhile asserted its forces launched retaliatory operations against Pakistani military positions along the shared border.
Explosions and the sound of jets were reported in Kabul, where ambulance sirens blared across neighbourhoods following the overnight strikes, according to Reuters witnesses. Islamabad has also reported ground clashes across multiple sectors of the 2,600‑kilometre (1,615‑mile) frontier, which Afghanistan does not formally recognise.
Background to the Conflict
Relations between the two neighbours have been strained for months over Pakistan’s accusations that Afghanistan’s Taliban government harbours militants, including the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), accused of staging deadly attacks on Pakistani soil. Kabul has consistently denied these claims, insisting it does not permit militants to operate from its territory.
Earlier diplomatic efforts, including a ceasefire last October mediated by Qatar and Turkey, briefly halted deadly clashes but were never fully sustained. Civilian casualties from prior airstrikes and cross‑border violence have drawn international concern, and regional powers have urged restraint.
International Response and Risks
The renewed hostilities have drawn calls for de‑escalation from neighbouring states such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, both urging restraint and offering potential mediation. However, continued military exchanges risk broader conflict and further destabilise the already fragile security landscape affecting millions of civilians, refugees and migrants across the wider South and Central Asian region.
Officials in Pakistan’s Punjab province reported heightened security alerts and increased detentions of Afghan nationals amid fears of militant retaliation. Kabul, meanwhile, reiterated its sovereignty and condemned the bombardment as a violation of international norms.
Diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis are ongoing, but with both sides rejecting blame and continuing military operations, the prospects for a rapid de‑escalation remain uncertain.
This report incorporates the latest verified developments, but casualty numbers and strategic developments remain contested by both governments.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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