“Open War” Breaks Out Between Afghanistan and Pakistan

 

Pakistan has declared it is in “open war” with Afghanistan’s Taliban government following a gradual escalation of tensions and cross-border clashes along the disputed Durand Line. Under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (“Righteous Fury”), Pakistan launched airstrikes in response to what it called “unprovoked firing” from across the border.

Pakistani forces targeted at least 22 locations, including Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika, saying they struck Taliban headquarters, ammunition depots, logistics bases, and other key military installations. Explosions were reported in Kabul.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces had launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military positions in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes. Afghan officials said they attacked Pakistani border troops in retaliation and claimed their drones successfully hit military targets inside Pakistan, though Islamabad said any drones were intercepted by anti-drone systems without damage.

Casualty figures are sharply disputed. Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said at least 274 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 400 injured since the operation began, while 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 wounded. Pakistan’s information minister gave a lower Taliban death toll of 133 and said two Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government claims 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, eight Taliban fighters died, and 11 were injured. Kabul also said 13 civilians were wounded in a reported Pakistani strike on a refugee camp in Nangarhar and claimed to have captured Pakistani soldiers, which Islamabad denies.

Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Islamabad had exhausted diplomatic options and would now take “decisive action,” blaming the Taliban for instability and terrorism. Asif accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into an Indian “colony,” exporting terrorism, and aligning with India, framing the conflict as a response to security threats and India’s growing ties with Kabul.

Mujahid said Afghanistan wants the fighting resolved through dialogue but warned it would respond to further Pakistani actions. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan would defend itself and urged Pakistan to change its policies and pursue good neighborly relations.

The fighting marks a major escalation since a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October temporarily halted deadly border clashes. Several rounds of negotiations in Doha and Istanbul failed to secure a lasting agreement, with disputes over ceasefire implementation, border mechanisms, and trade crossings. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, relations have deteriorated as violence surged on both sides.

At the center of the conflict is the 1,600-mile Durand Line, drawn in 1893 and recognized internationally as Pakistan’s border but rejected by Afghanistan. The colonial-era frontier divides Pashtun communities and has long been a source of friction.

Both sides accuse each other of failing to control militant activity along the border. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan, as well as Baloch separatists in Balochistan. The Taliban deny responsibility and say Pakistan’s security problems are internal. Analysts note that this is the first time Pakistan has directly targeted Taliban government sites rather than only alleged TTP positions.

Broader regional rivalries have compounded the crisis. India strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes, accusing Islamabad of trying to externalize its internal failures. India has recently strengthened ties with the Taliban, while Pakistan alleges that India funds anti-Pakistan groups in Afghanistan and inside Pakistan, a charge New Delhi denies.

Pakistan also accuses India of waging a proxy war in coordination with the Taliban, while India has increased diplomatic outreach to Kabul in what analysts describe as an “enemy of my enemy” approach as Islamabad’s influence in Afghanistan wanes.

International reaction has centered on restraint and dialogue. The United Nations expressed deep concern, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging compliance with international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and prioritizing civilian protection. The UN human rights chief called for urgent political dialogue amid concerns about rising civilian casualties.

The UK foreign secretary urged de-escalation and a return to mediated talks. Iran called for dialogue and restraint during Ramadan and offered to facilitate talks. Russia urged an immediate halt to cross-border attacks and offered to mediate if both sides agree. Türkiye and Qatar called for de-escalation, and China said it had been mediating through its own channels and was willing to play a constructive role.

The conflict carries significant regional security implications. Pakistan and India are nuclear-armed states, and Afghanistan has historically been a hub for global jihadist movements. Militarily, the balance is highly asymmetrical. Pakistan fields more than 600,000 active personnel, thousands of armored vehicles, and hundreds of combat aircraft, alongside nuclear weapons.

The Taliban are estimated to have around 172,000 fighters and limited air capabilities, possessing a small number of aircraft and helicopters with uncertain operational status. Analysts warn that the imbalance could lead to unconventional warfare, including increased terrorist attacks inside Pakistan’s major cities.

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