Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict Escalates, Islamabad Declares 'Open War'

Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated their conflict into an "open war" following intense cross-border clashes, with both sides launching airstrikes and exchanging heavy fire along the disputed Durand Line.

Pakistan declared "open war" after Afghan forces attacked over 50 Pakistani border positions, prompting Islamabad to retaliate with airstrikes on major Afghan cities including Kabul and Kandahar, targeting military hubs and Taliban infrastructure.

Pakistan's military claims it destroyed 73 Taliban posts, captured several positions, and killed 274 Taliban fighters, while also destroying an ammunition depot, a battalion headquarters, and a sector headquarters. The strikes reportedly hit areas near the spiritual heartland of the Taliban, where leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is believed to reside.

Afghanistan retaliated with cross-border attacks, claiming to have killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured multiple posts, while also reporting 13 Afghan soldiers killed and 22 wounded. The Taliban government said Pakistani strikes killed 19 civilians, including women and children, and injured 26 others.

Pakistan denied civilian casualties, asserting its operations were intelligence-based and targeted militant camps. Both sides accused each other of harboring and supporting militant groups: Pakistan blames the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which it says operates from Afghan soil, while Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of backing opposition factions. The TTP's leader, Noor Wali Mehsud, urged revenge for Pakistan's "invasion" of Afghanistan.

The conflict stems from long-standing tensions over the Durand Line border, which Afghanistan never officially recognizes. After the Taliban's 2021 takeover, Pakistan accused Kabul of sheltering the TTP, which has carried out deadly attacks inside Pakistan—over 1,200 people were killed in militant attacks in 2025 alone.

Pakistan has carried out three major airstrikes on Afghan soil since 2022, with this latest escalation marking the most severe since the 2025 ceasefire.

In a statement, the U.S. expressed support for Pakistan's "right to defend itself," while the UN, Iran, China, Turkey, and Qatar have called for de-escalation and offered mediation. Despite prior peace efforts, including a Qatar-brokered ceasefire in October 2025, the fragile truce has collapsed amid renewed violence.