Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul and two other Afghan provinces on Friday, intensifying the conflict between the two nations. The bombings came mere hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.
The recent violence follows a cross-border attack on Thursday night, where Afghan forces reportedly retaliated for earlier Pakistani airstrikes. The Taliban government claimed responsibility for the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 55 Pakistani soldiers, with several bodies taken into Afghanistan and others captured alive. In response, Pakistan’s federal minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the strikes killed 133 Afghan Taliban officials and wounded over 200 individuals.
Amidst the rising tensions, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that the armed forces are prepared to ‘crush’ aggressors, while Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif pronounced an ‘open war’ against Afghanistan. The situation has led to significant casualties on both sides, with eight Afghan soldiers killed and 11 others wounded. The Afghan Defence Ministry reported the destruction of 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been deteriorating, particularly since the deadly fighting in October, which claimed over 70 lives. The land border crossings have largely been shut since then, further straining diplomatic ties. Despite a Qatar-mediated ceasefire agreement in 2025, negotiations for a lasting peace have failed, leaving the 2,611 km-long Durand Line as a flashpoint for conflict.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for both nations to protect civilians amid the escalating violence. However, the conflict has already claimed the lives of 13 civilians, including women and children. The situation has forced residents on both sides of the border to evacuate to safer areas, with Afghan authorities evacuating a refugee camp near the Torkham border crossing.
As the international community watches closely, the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan poses a significant threat to regional stability. The recent hostilities underscore the fragility of peace efforts and the urgent need for renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.
