Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan entered an unprecedented stage of escalation on Friday, after Islamabad declared “open war” against the Taliban authorities following the bombing of major Afghan cities, in a development that comes after the exchange of bloody strikes and escalating border attacks between the two countries during the past days.

Published on: 02/26/2026 - 19:22 Last updated: 02/27/2026 - 05:04

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The Pakistani government announced on Friday that it was entering into an "open war" with the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, after Islamabad bombed major Afghan cities, in a dangerous escalation after an exchange of bloody air strikes between the two countries that began the previous day.

For his part, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to “crush” any aggressive ambitions, and wrote on X that “our forces have the full ability to crush any aggressive ambitions,” adding that “the entire nation stands side by side with the Pakistani armed forces.”

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed on the X platform, “Our patience has run out. Now it has become an open war between us and you.” In turn, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the strikes on Afghanistan were an “appropriate response” after explosions and gunfire erupted in Kabul and Kandahar.

Explosions and fighter planes were heard in Kabul, while the sounds of planes were heard in Kandahar, in the south of the country. The Taliban government confirmed the Pakistani air strikes, but its spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said there were no casualties.

Pakistani Information Minister Atallah Tarar said the strikes targeted "Afghan Taliban defense targets" in Kabul and Kandahar, as well as in Paktia province.

Islamabad says that these strikes came in response to a new Afghan attack on Pakistani sites on Thursday, while the Taliban authorities announced that they had launched a “large-scale” counterattack against sites of Pakistani soldiers, in a rapid escalation of the conflict.

Read also: Dozens killed as a result of Pakistani raids inside Afghanistan and Islamabad confirms that they targeted “armed groups”

On Thursday, the Afghan army launched an attack on border military facilities in Pakistan. The Afghan Ministry of Defense announced that 8 of its soldiers were killed in the ground attack, which was carried out in response to previous bloody attacks.

Zabihullah Mujahid said that “dozens of (Pakistani) soldiers were killed,” and 10 bodies were transported to Kunar and other areas, noting that there were wounded and living prisoners. The Kunar governor's office and residents in the state reported to Agence France-Presse that military operations were underway in their region, while Afghan officials confirmed that the army was carrying out operations in other states.

Pakistan takes 'immediate' action

On the other hand, Pakistan announced that it was dealing with the attacks through an “immediate and effective response,” accusing Afghanistan of firing “unjustified fire on several sites” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

This escalation comes after months of cross-border violence, as the crossings have been closed since the battles that broke out in October and resulted in more than 70 deaths on both sides.

According to the United Nations mission in Afghanistan, Pakistani raids on Nangarhar and Paktia provinces on Sunday night resulted in the killing of at least 13 civilians. While the Taliban government said that at least 18 people were killed, denying Pakistan's claim that its strikes killed more than 80 militants.

Qatari, Turkish and Saudi mediation

Rounds of negotiations were held after a first ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but diplomatic efforts failed to reach a permanent agreement. Saudi Arabia also intervened this month and brokered the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October.

Islamabad accuses Kabul of failing to take action against armed groups carrying out attacks inside Pakistan from Afghan territory, which the Taliban government denies.

The latest Pakistani raids came after a series of suicide bombings, including an attack on a Shiite mosque in the Pakistani capital that killed at least 40 people, and was claimed by the Islamic State. The organization's "Khorasan Province" also claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that targeted a restaurant in Kabul last month.

France 24/AFP

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