Pakistan Declares 'Open War' With Afghanistan After Cross-Border Strikes
Pakistan and Taliban-led Afghanistan exchanged air and cross-border strikes, with each side claiming heavy casualties and international calls for diplomacy.
CBS NewsPakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban-led government enter direct war
PBS NewsHourNews Wrap: Pakistan says it's in 'open war' with Afghanistan
Al JazeeraAfghanistan’s Taliban says open to talks after Pakistan bombs major cities
RedStatePakistan Pledges 'Open War' With Afghanistan; Taliban's Supreme Emir Reported Killed in Airstrike
Overview
Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and other towns, and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X that "Now it is open war between us and you."
The clashes followed months of tensions and tit-for-tat attacks after Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory prompted Afghan retaliatory strikes, officials said.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Taliban leaders were willing to negotiate, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply concerned by the escalation of violence."
Pakistan's army spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said at least 274 Afghan forces and affiliated fighters were killed and more than 400 wounded while Pakistan reported 12 soldiers killed, and Afghan officials said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed.
Several rounds of negotiations and a Qatari-brokered ceasefire failed to produce a lasting agreement, and Saudi Arabia mediated the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured in October.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the conflict as a contested escalation by juxtaposing reciprocal claims while privileging independent markers like UN reports and civilian impact. Language choices (e.g., 'serious escalation', 'upper hand by a long mile'), selection of UN casualty figures, and vivid opening scenes steer readers toward cautious skepticism of both sides' assertions.
FAQ
The conflict escalated after Pakistan conducted airstrikes on February 21, 2026, targeting militant camps of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and ISIS-K in Afghanistan's Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces, in retaliation for terror attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu.
Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, and border provinces under Operation Ghazab Lil Haqq; Afghanistan retaliated with cross-border attacks and drone strikes on Pakistani cities like Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera.
Pakistan reported killing 274 Afghan forces and wounding over 400; Afghanistan claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers killed. Pakistan also reported 12 of its soldiers killed.
Previous Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October 2025 ended a 10-day conflict; recent negotiations and Saudi-mediated release of captured soldiers failed. U.N. Secretary-General and Russia called for diplomacy.
