Published on: 02/27/2026 - 07:39 Last updated: 02/27/2026 - 23:12

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are witnessing an unprecedented military escalation, with Islamabad declaring “open war” against its neighbour, following mutual air strikes and artillery shelling across the border that left deaths and injuries on both sides. While the Afghan army announced the launch of "intensive attacks" on Pakistani positions in response to previous strikes, Islamabad confirmed the killing of 12 of its soldiers and 274 Taliban officials and militants. Coinciding with the escalation on the ground, regional and international diplomatic contacts intensified to contain the crisis, amid UN and international calls for an immediate ceasefire and a return to dialogue.

The Afghan army launched "intensive attacks" on neighboring Pakistan, a military spokesman said, days after Islamabad launched deadly strikes on Afghanistan. Army spokesman in eastern Afghanistan, Wahidullah Mohammadi, said in a video speech, “In response to the air strikes launched by Pakistan on Nangarhar and Paktia... the border forces... in the eastern region began intensive attacks on Pakistani positions.”

The Taliban government announced on Thursday that its forces killed and captured a number of Pakistani soldiers in the attack it launched on border points, in response to air strikes launched by Islamabad on its territory a few days ago. “A number of soldiers were killed, and a number of them were captured alive,” government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Ex.

Mutual bombing and heavy losses

Pakistani security forces responded to “unprovoked firing” by the Afghan Taliban at several points along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday, the Information Ministry said. The ministry said in a post on X that Taliban forces opened fire across several sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and that Pakistani forces responded “immediately and effectively,” resulting in the fall of a large number of troops and the destruction of several sites and equipment.

A Pakistani army spokesman said on Friday that Pakistani air strikes targeted 22 suspected militant sites in Afghanistan, following violent clashes that broke out on the border between the two countries overnight. Spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told reporters that 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the clashes, noting that 274 Taliban officials and militants had been killed since Thursday evening.

Pakistan bombed Taliban government forces in the main cities of Afghanistan overnight, targeting for the first time its former allies directly, accusing them of harboring militants, and described the situation as "open war." The Pakistani attacks targeted the capital, Kabul, and the city of Kandahar, where Taliban leaders are based. This is the first time that Islamabad has attacked Taliban military facilities instead of militants it says are supported by the movement, severely spoiling relations between the two Islamic neighbors.

Security sources in Pakistan said that the strikes included attacks with air-to-surface missiles on military administrative headquarters and Taliban military sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia province, in response to Afghan attacks that occurred on Thursday. The Taliban, which denies its support for armed attacks on Pakistan and makes similar accusations against its neighbour, said that the attacks on Pakistani military facilities yesterday were retaliatory, but that it was ready to negotiate. Both sides reported multiple ground clashes on the border and heavy casualties, and issued widely varying statistics that Reuters could not independently verify.

Explosions rock Kabul

A large explosion was heard in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Friday, hours after the Taliban government announced it had launched a border attack against Pakistan, according to what journalists from the French news agency reported. The explosion was heard at approximately 1:50 am (21:20 GMT) after the sound of at least one fighter plane was heard over the city and was followed by successive gunfire, according to what the Agence France-Presse team reported.

One resident said that up to eight explosions rocked the city. He added, requesting that his name not be revealed for security reasons, "The first two explosions were far from us. The last explosions were close to us and shook the house, and the sound of fighter planes could be heard after each explosion."

Regional and international diplomatic movements

Russia urges Afghanistan and Pakistan to immediately stop cross-border attacks and settle their differences through diplomatic means, the RIA news agency reported on Friday, citing the Foreign Ministry.

Iran offered to help "facilitate dialogue" to resolve the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Islamabad declared "open war" against the Taliban government and launched air strikes on Kabul following border clashes. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide any necessary assistance to facilitate dialogue and enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Ex.

On Friday, China expressed its "deep concern" about the confrontations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that Beijing is communicating with both parties and calling for a ceasefire. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a regular press conference that Beijing "calls on both sides to maintain calm and exercise restraint... (and) reach a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible and avoid further bloodshed." She stated that the ministry and the Chinese embassies in both Pakistan and Afghanistan "are working in this regard with the relevant parties in the two countries."

A Turkish diplomatic source said that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan in separate phone calls on Friday with his counterparts from these two countries, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi-Qatari efforts to stop the escalation

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are making efforts to stop the escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a source familiar with the talks told Agence France-Presse on Friday. These diplomatic efforts come amid growing fears of a worsening conflict after Pakistan bombed cities in Afghanistan, declaring "open war" against the Taliban authorities.

Intermittent confrontations have been taking place between the two countries, which have been close for a long time, since the Taliban once again took control of power in Kabul in August 2021. The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said, “Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the aim of ensuring that the situation does not get out of control.”

Doha announced that Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi made a phone call on Friday with Qatari chief negotiator Mohammed Al-Khulaifi. A Saudi statement said that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also spoke with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar. The source added: “Riyadh and Doha have made contacts at the highest level with both sides, and we hope that the confrontation will end as soon as possible.”

An Afghan position that welcomes dialogue

The Afghan government on Friday stressed its desire for "dialogue" to put an end to the conflict with Pakistan, which declared "open war" against its neighbour. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a press conference, "We have repeatedly stressed the peaceful solution and we still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue."

Drone strikes

The Afghan Ministry of Defense and a government spokesman said on Friday that the Taliban in Afghanistan “successfully launched” air strikes using drones to hit military targets in Pakistan, while clashes continued between the two countries. Pakistani Information Minister Atallah Tarar said that Pakistani Taliban militants tried to use drones against targets in his country, but anti-drone systems shot them down and there were “no casualties.”

A UN call for an immediate ceasefire

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Friday for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” between Afghanistan and Pakistan, his spokesman said. Stephane Dujarric told reporters, "The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the impact of this violence on the civilian population," adding that he "calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and reiterates his call on the two parties to resolve their differences through diplomatic means."

Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan (speaker)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Friday for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” between Afghanistan and Pakistan, his spokesman said.

Stephane Dujarric told reporters, “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the impact of this violence on the civilian population,” adding that he “calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and reiterates his call on the two parties to resolve their differences through diplomatic means.”

Iran urges Afghanistan and Pakistan to refrain from escalatory steps

On Friday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry called on neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan to refrain from any escalatory steps, after Islamabad declared “open war” against the Taliban authorities.

The ministry said in a statement that it renews its call on the two parties "to respect each other's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and to refrain from any action that would escalate tension and conflict."

Saudi and Qatari efforts to prevent escalation between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are making efforts to stop the escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a source familiar with the talks told AFP on Friday.

These diplomatic efforts come amid growing fears of a worsening conflict after Pakistan bombed cities in Afghanistan, declaring "open war" against the Taliban authorities.

Intermittent confrontations have been taking place between the two countries, which have been close for a long time, since the Taliban once again seized power in Kabul in August 2021.

The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said, “Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the aim of ensuring that the situation does not get out of control.”

Doha announced that Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi made a phone call on Friday with Qatari chief negotiator Mohammed Al-Khulaifi.

A Saudi statement said that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also spoke with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar.

The source added: “Riyadh and Doha have made contacts at the highest level with both sides, and we hope that the confrontation will end as soon as possible.”

Pakistan bombs Taliban government targets in Afghan cities

Pakistan bombed Taliban government forces in major cities in Afghanistan overnight, targeting for the first time its former allies directly, accusing them of harboring militants, and describing the situation as "open war."

The Pakistani attacks targeted the capital, Kabul, and the city of Kandahar, where Taliban leaders are based. This is the first time that Islamabad has attacked Taliban military facilities instead of militants it says are supported by the movement, severely spoiling relations between the two Islamist neighbours.

Security sources in Pakistan said that the strikes included attacks with air-to-ground missiles on military administrative headquarters and Taliban military sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia province, in response to Afghan attacks that occurred yesterday, Thursday.

The Taliban, which denies its support for armed attacks on Pakistan and makes similar accusations against its neighbour, said that the attacks on Pakistani military facilities yesterday were retaliatory, but that it was ready to negotiate.

Both sides reported multiple ground clashes on the border and heavy casualties, and issued widely varying statistics that Reuters could not independently verify.

Pakistan: Air strikes hit 22 military targets in Afghanistan

A Pakistani army spokesman said on Friday that Pakistani air strikes targeted 22 suspected militant sites in Afghanistan, following violent clashes that broke out on the border between the two countries overnight.

Spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told reporters that 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the clashes, noting that 274 Taliban officials and militants had been killed since yesterday evening.

A Pakistani army spokesman: 274 Taliban regime officials and fighters have been killed since yesterday evening

Taliban government: Pakistani planes flying over Afghanistan

The Taliban government announced that Pakistani reconnaissance planes are "now" flying over Afghanistan, hours after Islamabad carried out strikes targeting the cities of Kabul and Kandahar.

The spokesman for the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, was killed in a press conference in Kandahar. “Now, Pakistani reconnaissance planes are still flying in the airspace of Afghanistan.”

The Afghan government declares its readiness for "dialogue" to end the conflict with Pakistan

The Afghan government on Friday stressed its desire for "dialogue" to put an end to the conflict with Pakistan, which declared "open war" against its neighbour.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a press conference, "We have repeatedly stressed the peaceful solution and we still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue."

The British Foreign Secretary calls for "de-escalation" between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Britain expressed its "deep concern about the significant escalation in tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan," Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Friday, after Islamabad bombed major Afghan cities, including the capital, Kabul.

“We urge both parties to take immediate steps towards reducing the escalation, avoid causing further harm to civilians, and engage again in dialogue,” she said on “X.”

Afghanistan: We used drones to bomb targets in Pakistan

The Afghan Ministry of Defense and a government spokesman said on Friday that the Taliban movement in Afghanistan “successfully launched” air strikes using drones to hit military targets in Pakistan, at a time when clashes continued between the two countries.

Pakistani Information Minister Atallah Tarar said that Pakistani Taliban militants tried to use drones against targets in his country, but the anti-drone systems shot them down and there were “no casualties.”

Diplomatic source: The Turkish Foreign Minister discussed the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan with his counterparts from the two countries, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

A Turkish diplomatic source said that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan in separate phone calls today, Friday, with his counterparts from these two countries, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The source did not provide any other details.

China expresses its deep concern over the confrontations between Afghanistan and Pakistan

China on Friday expressed its "deep concern" about the confrontations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that Beijing is communicating with both parties and calling for a ceasefire.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a regular press conference that Beijing "calls on both sides to maintain calm and exercise restraint... (and) reach a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible and avoid further bloodshed."

She stated that the ministry and the Chinese embassies in both Pakistan and Afghanistan "are working in this regard with the relevant parties in the two countries."

Clashes near a major border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Clashes occurred on Friday morning near the main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to Agence France-Presse correspondents in the region, in light of the return of fighting between the two countries.

The sound of shelling was heard from the Afghan side of the border at about 9:30 am (05:00 GMT), before the border clashes resumed.

Araqchi says Iran is ready to help "facilitate dialogue" between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Iran has offered to help "facilitate dialogue" to resolve the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Islamabad declared "open war" on the Taliban government and launched air strikes on Kabul following border clashes.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide any necessary assistance to facilitate dialogue and enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Ex.

An explosion rocks Kabul

A large explosion was heard in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Friday, hours after the Taliban government announced it had launched a border attack against Pakistan, according to what journalists from Agence France-Presse reported.

The explosion was heard around 1:50 a.m. (21:20 GMT) after the sound of at least one fighter plane was heard over the city, followed by successive gunfire, according to what an Agence France-Presse team reported.

One resident said that up to eight explosions rocked the city.

He added, requesting that his name not be revealed for security reasons, "The first two explosions were far from us. The last explosions were close to us and shook the house, and the sound of fighter planes could be heard after each explosion."

France 24/AFP/Reuters

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