Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have erupted into one of the most serious military escalations in recent years, with Islamabad declaring “open war” after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border positions late on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Pakistan responded with air and ground strikes on Taliban targets in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia and other Afghan provinces, triggering heavy exchanges across the 2,600‑km Durand Line.
Islamabad’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif framed the actions as a justified counter‑offensive, while Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities reported their own offensive operations and claimed significant Pakistani casualties figures fiercely disputed by Pakistan. Iran has offered to help “facilitate dialogue” amid rising international calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement, even as civilians are displaced and the fragile ceasefire of recent months appears to be unraveling.
Escalation on the Border and Official Statements
The latest military escalation comes after a period of rising hostilities along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, where both sides have repeatedly accused each other of harbouring or enabling militant attacks. On Thursday night, Afghan forces reportedly launched coordinated offensives on multiple Pakistani border posts along the Durand Line in retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes.
The Taliban government’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, described these as “large‑scale offensive operations” and said they were conducted to defend Afghan territory against continued violations. In response, Pakistan’s military under the banner of Operation Ghazab lil‑Haq (Wrath of Justice) conducted targeted air and ground strikes on Taliban military infrastructure inside Afghanistan.
According to Islamabad’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, Pakistani forces hit numerous Taliban posts, brigade headquarters, ammunition depots and border installations, resulting in significant reported casualties among Taliban fighters. Pakistani security sources claimed the destruction of key assets and inflicted “heavy losses” as part of what officials described as a decisive response to what they labelled unprovoked aggression.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that Pakistan’s “patience has reached its limit” and that the conflict had entered a new phase of “open war”, blaming the Afghan Taliban for ignoring repeated calls to rein in militant groups allegedly operating from Afghan soil. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed this hardline stance, asserting that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully capable of “crushing any hostile ambitions” and that the nation stood united behind the military’s actions.
Taliban authorities, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty and engaging in acts of aggression that would be met with proportionate defensive actions. They reported retaliatory strikes and said Afghan forces targeted Pakistani positions near Kandahar, Helmand and other frontier regions.
Casualties, Claims and Human Impact
Both sides have issued sharply contrasting casualty figures that reflect the fog of war and the highly contested nature of the conflict. Pakistan asserts that at least 133 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded, with numerous posts taken or destroyed, as part of the latest retaliation. Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for the prime minister, detailed the extent of damage inflicted on Taliban infrastructure.
In stark contrast, Afghan government statements claim that their forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, captured several outposts and seized weapons during the Thursday night offensive. Kabul also accused Pakistani strikes of causing civilian harm, including injuries at a refugee camp near Nangarhar province, a claim denied by Islamabad.
Beyond the official tallies, independent journalists and Reuters witnesses in Kabul and Kandahar reported explosions, sirens and the sound of aircraft early on Friday, underscoring the intensity of the confrontation and its significant impact on urban areas. Civilians on both sides of the border are reported to be evacuating high‑risk zones amid the insecurity.
The conflict risks further destabilising a region already plagued by insurgency, displacement and economic hardship. Healthcare and relief organisations have noted increased movements of families seeking safety away from frontline zones, and disruptions to trade and daily life in border provinces highlight the broader social cost of renewed hostilities.
Regional and International Responses
The international community has reacted with alarm to the sharp escalation. Iran has offered to help “facilitate dialogue” between Pakistan and Afghanistan, indicating a regional interest in reducing tensions and averting full‑scale war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed Tehran’s readiness to support diplomatic efforts to enhance understanding and cooperation between the neighbours.
The United Nations has also weighed in, urging both governments to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic solutions to prevent further civilian suffering. Regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have in previous months called for restraint and dialogue during earlier flare‑ups, but recent violence shows how fragile such frameworks have become after months of intermittent conflict and mistrust.
Analysts warn that the breakdown of ceasefire attempts and peace talks some of which were mediated by external actors late last year highlights the need for stronger, sustained diplomatic engagement, particularly to address mutual security concerns and broader regional stability.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The latest Pakistan-Afghanistan hostilities serve as a grim reminder of the human cost of unresolved conflicts and the limits of military solutions. While governments on both sides frame their actions as necessary for national security, prolonged confrontation risks deepening mistrust, harming civilians, and destabilising a region already beset by displacement and hardship. Acts of retaliation and counter‑retaliation perpetuate a cycle of violence that offers little hope for long‑term peace or prosperity.
