Pakistan on Friday carried out extensive air strikes on several Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul, marking a dangerous escalation in hostilities between the two neighbors. Islamabad’s defence minister declared that the countries are now in an “open war” following months of cross-border clashes and failed ceasefire efforts.
Loud explosions and the roar of fighter jets were reported over Kabul and the southern city of Kandahar, the stronghold of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. Witnesses described hours of bombardment and gunfire overnight. According to AFP journalists in both cities, Pakistani warplanes struck multiple Taliban defence installations in the Afghan capital, Kandahar, and the eastern province of Paktia.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes targeted Taliban military positions, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced an “all-out confrontation” against the Taliban government, accusing it of harbouring militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. “Our patience has reached its limit,” he warned on X. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif added that the Pakistani armed forces have “full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions.”
The Taliban government confirmed the air raids, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stating that no casualties had been reported from the strikes. However, Afghan officials said several civilians were injured near the Torkham border crossing, including refugees returning from Pakistan. “A mortar shell hit a returnee camp and seven people were wounded, one of them critically,” said Nangarhar provincial information chief Qureshi Badlun.
Tensions have surged between the neighbours since October, when fierce border clashes left more than 70 people dead. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of failing to curb militant activity from Afghan soil, a charge the Taliban leadership denies. Despite mediation attempts by Qatar, Turkey, and most recently Saudi Arabia,which helped secure the release of Pakistani soldiers captured in earlier fighting peace efforts have repeatedly collapsed.
The Afghan defence ministry said eight of its soldiers were killed in land fighting that followed the latest round of Pakistani strikes. In retaliation, Mujahid announced “large-scale offensive operations” along the frontier. Both sides have exchanged artillery fire in recent days, with each claiming to have inflicted heavy losses on the other.
The renewed conflict comes amid a series of deadly extremist attacks in both countries, including a bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad and another at a restaurant in Kabul, both claimed by Islamic State-Khorasan.
Diplomatic observers warn that the situation could spiral further unless urgent international mediation is launched to prevent a full-scale regional confrontation.
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