US State Dept backs Pakistan ‘right to defend itself’ against Afghan Taliban govt
Pakistan says it killed more than 300 Afghan forces in dayslong airstrikes inside Afghanistan
Pakistan’s military, backed by artillery and air power, struck more military installations deep inside Afghanistan overnight and into early Saturday, killing over 300 Afghan forces in dayslong border clashes, a government spokesman and officials said.
EU urges ‘de-escalation’ between Afghanistan and Pakistan
The European Union called on Saturday for an “immediate de-escalation” between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as Islamabad launched air strikes in a flare-up of fighting.
“We call on all actors for immediate de-escalation and a halt of hostilities following the sharp increase of violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including cross-border attacks and reported strikes over the past 24 hours, which could have serious implications for the region,” the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said in a statement.
‘Totally untrue’: Pakistan rejects Taliban’s jet crash claim
Islamabad’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that claims by Afghan military and police of downing a Pakistani jet and capturing a pilot were “totally untrue.”
“That’s a false claim. Totally untrue,” ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi told AFP.
Pak fighter pilot captured in Jalalabad: Taliban
A Pakistani jet has crashed in Jalalabad city and the pilot captured alive, the Afghan military and police said Saturday, with residents telling AFP the man parachuted from the plane before being detained.
“A Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in the sixth district of Jalalabad city, and its pilot was captured alive,” police spokesman Tayeb Hammad said.
Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the military in eastern Afghanistan, confirmed the Pakistani jet was downed by Afghan forces “and the pilot was captured alive”.”
The announcement followed an AFP journalist hearing a jet over Jalalabad, followed by the sound of two explosions from the direction of the city’s airport.
Two blasts rock Afghanistan’s Jalalabad
Two loud explosions rocked Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday morning, an AFP journalist said, a day after Pakistani air strikes hit other Afghan cities.
The AFP journalist heard a jet overhead before blasts from the direction of the airport in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, which sits on the road between Kabul and the Pakistani border.
About 300 fighters from Afghan Taliban and its allied groups killed: Pakistan
Pakistan authorities said that about 300 Afghan Taliban personnel and their allied terrorist groups have been killed so far as the operation against them was going on.
Information minister Attaullah Tarar in the late-night update said the security forces killed 297 combatants of the Afghan Taliban regime, and over 450 Afghan operatives were injured.
Providing a summary of the Afghan Taliban regime, the minister said that Pakistan destroyed their 89 posts and captured 18 others during Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, while around 135 tanks and armoured vehicles were also destroyed.
The minister said around 29 locations across Afghanistan were also effectively targeted by the air force. (PTI)
Russia expresses concern over ‘sharp escalation’ of violence
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the “sharp escalation” of armed clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, “involving regular army units, air force, and heavy weapons.”
“There are casualties on both sides, including civilians. We call on our friendly countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, to abandon this dangerous confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve all differences through political and diplomatic means,” foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
Kremlin’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, also urged Islamabad and Kabul to halt the hostilities.
“We are in favour of a swift end to mutual attacks and a diplomatic resolution of differences,” Kabulov was quoted as saying by state-run news agency RIA Novosti. (PTI)
‘Deeply concerned,’ says UN chief Guterres; calls for dialogue
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
UN chief is “deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations. He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing Friday.
Dujarric further said that UN humanitarian officials are voicing concern over the impact of attacks in Afghanistan, including a reported incident at a transit and reception centre at the Torkham border crossing in the eastern part of Afghanistan.
“We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law; in particular, to ensure that civilians are protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure,” he said. (PTI)
‘Open to talks with Pakistan’: Taliban
Afghanistan said it is open to negotiations after Pakistan carried out airstrikes on several major cities, with Islamabad’s defence minister declaring the two countries in “open war” following months of escalating tensions and reciprocal attacks, as reported by Al Jazeera.
On Friday, Pakistan carried out strikes on Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, and other towns, while fighting continued along the border, with both sides reporting significant casualties.
Tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have escalated, with both sides accusing one another of retaliatory strikes, raising fears of a wider military conflict in the region.
Islamabad declared “open war” on Kabul after carrying out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, further intensifying tensions between the two neighbouring countries. (ANI)
‘Sponsoring cross-border terrorism’: Pak information minister slams Taliban
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday accused the Afghan Taliban regime of sponsoring cross-border terrorism that “institutionalises slavery and orchestrates the systematic erasure of women and minorities.”
Addressing a press conference, Tarar said there was an “undeniable nexus” between the Afghan Taliban and the terrorist organisations carrying out attacks on Pakistani soil.
He claimed that the Afghan Taliban regime provides safe havens, training and facilitation to terrorists who cross into Pakistan.
The minister alleged that the recent unprovoked attacks by Afghanistan were met with an effective response from Pakistan’s armed forces, resulting in the “neutralisation of attackers and the capture of several enemy posts.”
Tarar criticised the Afghan Taliban’s domestic policies, characterising their rule as one founded entirely on the “perversion of religion” to serve authoritarian motives.
He said that the regime seized power by force without any legitimate process and operates without the backing of its people.
Tarar also slammed the Afghan Taliban’s “draconian new criminal regulations, which explicitly legalise slavery, violence and profound social inequality.”
“The Afghan Taliban regime is based on a system of repression,” Tarar said and reiterated that their oppressive actions and perversion of Islamic teachings have “nothing to do with Islam.” (PTI)
US backs Pakistan’s ‘right to defend itself’ against Afghan attacks
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker on Friday expressed condolences to Pakistan for lives lost in the recent conflict with Afghanistan and reaffirmed Washington’s support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself. Writing on X, she said, “Spoke today with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Baloch to express condolences for lives lost in the recent conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban. We continue to monitor the situation closely and express support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks.”
The US Embassy in Pakistan issued a security alert urging caution amid heightened tensions. Islamabad declared “open war” after airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Afghan drone attacks were intercepted. According to Geo News, Pakistan has imposed a nationwide ban on drone operations.
Pakistan says strikes in Afghanistan military sites ‘completely destroyed’
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the country’s strikes in Afghanistan targeted military installations and terrorist bases, insisting Kabul’s Green Zone was not hit. Speaking to Geo News, he said enemy military sites had been “completely destroyed” and described the situation as ongoing.
He added that the Afghan Taliban had attempted skirmishes in Khyber and Chitral but lacked conventional warfare capability. Tarar also noted a shift in the Taliban’s tone since yesterday.
Trump says Pakistan ‘doing terrifically well’ amid ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he enjoys a strong relationship with Pakistan and praised the country amid the escalating conflict with Afghanistan. Asked whether he would intervene, Trump told reporters, “I would (intervene). But I get along with Pakistan very very well. They have a great Prime Minister, a great General. They have a great leader. Two of the people that I really respect a lot. Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”
US backs Pakistan ‘right to defend itself’ against Afghan Taliban govt
The United States said on Friday it backed Pakistan after it carried out air strikes on neighbouring Afghanistan and declared war on its Taliban government following renewed clashes. “We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks,” Allison Hooker, the under secretary of state for political affairs, wrote on X after talks with a Pakistani counterpart.
She added that she had conveyed to Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch US “condolences for lives lost in the recent conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban.” Her statement did not urge an end to hostilities. Britain called for “de-escalation”, China for a ceasefire, and Iran offered mediation. President Donald Trump later praised Pakistan’s leadership, saying, “I think Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”
Pakistan bans drones nationwide following Afghan drone attacks amid border clashes
Amid escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said Afghan drones targeted Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera, though air defence systems intercepted them and no casualties were reported. Islamabad has since imposed a nationwide ban on commercial and private drone operations following renewed border clashes.
Iran offers to help ‘facilitate dialogue’ between Afghanistan, Pakistan
Iran has offered to help facilitate dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Islamabad described relations as being at “open war” and carried out air strikes on Kabul following border clashes. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged both sides to respect territorial integrity and avoid escalation. Tehran, which borders both nations, previously proposed mediation during earlier hostilities.
Pakistan bombs Kabul in ‘open war’ on Afghanistan’s Taliban government
Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad’s defence minister declaring the neighbours at “open war” following months of tit-for-tat clashes. (AFP)
Red Cross president urges ‘de-escalation’ in Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict
Afghan govt says wants ‘dialogue’ to resolve Pakistan conflict
Afghanistan’s government said Friday it wanted “dialogue” to resolve its conflict with neighbouring Pakistan following deadly fighting.
“We have repeatedly emphasised a peaceful solution, and still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a news conference.
Taliban govt says Pakistani planes flying over Afghanistan, reports AFP
Afghanistan defence ministry says it targeted Pakistani military bases in Jamrud, Abbottabad in aerial operation
British FM urges ‘de-escalation’ in Pakistan-Afghanistan fighting
Britain was “deeply concerned by the significant escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan”, UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said Friday after Islamabad bombed major Afghan cities including the capital Kabul.
“We urge both sides to take immediate steps toward de‑escalation, avoid further harm to civilians, and re‑engage in mediated dialogue,” Britain’s top diplomat said on X.
Turkey discussed conflict with Pakistan, Afghanistan, as well as Saudi, Qatar
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan discussed the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan in separate calls on Friday with counterparts from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
China calls on Pakistan, Afghanistan to reach ceasefire
China on Friday called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to work out a ceasefire while expressing concern over the escalation of the conflict between the two countries.
China is closely following the developments of the situation in the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here, responding to questions on the current conflict between the two countries.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are close neighbours, and both are neighbouring countries of China. As a neighbour and friend, China is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict and deeply saddened by the casualties caused by the conflict, Mao said. (PTI)
Pakistani Taliban tried drone attacks; all drones shot down, no casualties: Pakistan information minister
‘Now it is open war’: Taliban military posts, HQs, ammo depots hit; details of Pakistan strikes on Afghanistan
In a declared “open war,” Pakistan launched overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan, heavily bombing multiple key cities, including Kabul and Kandahar, and claiming that 133 people were killed in what Islamabad called a “strong and effective” retaliation for “unprovoked firing” from across the border.
The strikes came after Afghanistan claimed it had killed 55 Pakistani troops earlier along the Durand Line, the contested border between the two neighbouring countries.
The military escalation appeared to move both sides further away from the Qatar-brokered peace efforts between the two Islamic nations, casting uncertainty over the fragile understanding.
Multiple explosions were heard in Kabul and Kandahar, with locals reporting jets flying overhead. Pakistan reportedly used its air force in the strikes, while Afghanistan, a landlocked country, does not have an air force of its own.
The Associated Press reported that Pakistan’s military carried out airstrikes targeting Afghan military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces, allegedly destroying two brigade bases. However, there was no mention of potential casualties.
Afghanistan on Friday claimed that Pakistan had lost its much-hyped, American-made F-16 fighter jet in action, as the Islamabad-led military carried out overnight strikes targeting multiple cities in Taliban-led Afghanistan. The US-made F-16 jet, considered a key asset of the Pakistan air force, was reportedly used in the airstrikes on the Taliban-led country, which does not have an air force of its own and relies primarily on ground forces.
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live: Clashes near key Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossing
AFP journalists near the key Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan heard gunfire and shelling on Friday, as the neighbours engaged in deadly fighting.
Incoming shelling was heard from the Afghan side of the border from around 9:30 am (0500 GMT), before cross-border clashes resumed, while gunfire was heard in the distance.
One of the journalists saw more Afghan soldiers heading towards the frontier, before he was told to leave the area by the security forces.
The Torkham crossing has remained open for Afghans returning en masse from Pakistan, despite the land border being largely shut since fighting between the neighbours in October.
The Omari camp that accommodates returnees near the crossing was hit by the fighting overnight, prompting people to flee.
“Children, women, and old people were running,” said Gander Khan, a 65-year-old returnee, standing in front of rows of tents.
“Here, nearby, a bullet (explosives) hit. I saw blood, it wounded two or three children, and two or three women,” he told AFP.
Pakistan Afghanistan War Live: Iran offers to help ‘facilitate dialogue’ between Afghanistan, Pakistan: foreign minister
Iran offered to help “facilitate dialogue” to resolve conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Islamabad declared “open war” on the Taliban government and carried out air strikes on Kabul following border clashes.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.
Pakistan Afghanistan War Live: Pakistan’s defense minister says that there is now an ‘open war’ with Afghanistan after latest strikes
Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Pakistan has “run out of patience” and now considers itself in an “open war” with Afghanistan, following fresh cross-border strikes between the two neighbours.
In a post on X, the defence minister said Islamabad had hoped for peace and stability in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces. He added that Pakistan had expected the Taliban leadership to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and promote regional stability.
“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” Asif said.
The sharp escalation comes after both sides carried out strikes in response to what Pakistan described as an Afghan cross-border attack. The renewed violence has cast serious doubt over a Qatar-mediated ceasefire, which now appears increasingly fragile.
Notably, the Pakistani defence minister made no reference to the ceasefire in his statement.
Pakistan Afghanistan War Live: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif warns Afghanistan, says forces can ‘crush’ any aggression
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday his country’s armed forces can “crush” aggressors, following air strikes on neighbouring Afghanistan.
“Our forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions,” Sharif said, according to the Pakistani government’s X page.
“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces,” he said.
Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions live: Jets overheard in Afghanistan’s capital
In the Afghan capital AFP journalists heard jets and multiple loud blasts, followed by gunfire, over a period of more than two hours.
An AFP reporter in Afghanistan’s southern city of Kandahar, where Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based, said he heard jets overhead.
The Taliban government confirmed the Pakistani air strikes, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying there were no casualties.
Hours earlier, Mujahid announced “large-scale offensive operations” at the border “in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military”.
The Afghan defence ministry reported eight of its soldiers had been killed in the land offensive.
An Afghan official reported multiple civilians wounded near the Torkham border crossing, at a camp for people returning from Pakistan.
“A mortar shell has hit the camp and unfortunately seven of our refugees have been wounded, and the condition of one woman is serious,” said Qureshi Badlun, the information chief in Nangarhar province.
While the border has largely been closed since October, Afghan returnees have been allowed to cross.
Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia (province) and Kandahar.
Pak information minister Attaullah Tarar
Pakistan says its ‘armed forces have given a befitting response’ to Afghan Taliban
Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said Friday that the strikes on Afghanistan were a “befitting response”, as blasts and gunfire rang out in the cities of Kabul and Kandahar.
“Pakistan’s armed forces have given a befitting response to the Afghan Taliban’s open aggression,” said Naqvi, hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops in what the Taliban government said was retaliation for earlier deadly air strikes.
Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions escalate: Afghan Forces kill 55 Pakistani soldiers, Pakistan retaliates with Operation ‘Ghazab Lil Haq’
Afghanistan’s ministry of national defence said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations along the 2,611-kilometre Durand Line on Thursday, a border Kabul has never formally recognised. In a statement, the ministry said the four-hour operation began at 8pm on 26 February, the 9th of Ramadan, in response to what it described as a Pakistani violation of Afghan territory that killed women and children.
Afghan forces said they targeted posts near Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan, destroying two bases, seizing 19 posts and capturing weapons and vehicles. Eight Afghan fighters were killed and 11 wounded, while 13 civilians were reportedly injured in a missile strike on a refugee camp in Nangarhar.
Pakistan said it launched “Ghazab Lil Haq” in response, claiming to have killed 133 Taliban fighters and destroyed multiple posts. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, but said no casualties were reported.
Pakistan Afghanistan War Live: Pakistan bombs Kabul after Afghanistan attacks border
Pakistan bombed major Afghan cities, including Kabul, on Friday, as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared relations with Afghanistan had become “open war” after months of tit-for-tat clashes. Afghan forces had attacked Pakistani border troops overnight, describing it as retaliation for earlier air strikes.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Taliban targets were hit in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar. AFP journalists reported jets and explosions in Kabul and Kandahar.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the strikes but said there were no casualties. Afghanistan’s defence ministry said eight soldiers were killed, while officials reported civilians wounded near the largely closed Torkham border crossing.
Pakistan has declared “open war” on the Afghan Taliban government following intense border clashes. Islamabad launched air strikes on key Afghan cities, including Kabul and Kandahar, after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani troops. The Taliban responded with retaliatory operations, confirming air strikes but denying casualties. Both sides reported dozens of casualties amidst escalating tensions.
Pakistan Afghanistan War Live: Afghan troops renew border attacks as Pakistan claims ‘befitting response’
The Afghan government has said its troops have renewed attacks along the border with Pakistan, escalating tensions between the two neighbours. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said operations had begun along the Durand Line in Kandahar and Helmand, targeting Pakistani military posts. He claimed the move followed earlier “revenge attacks” in the east and south-east, after which Pakistani forces allegedly bombed sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Mujahid insisted there were no casualties from those strikes.
Pakistan, however, said its armed forces had delivered a “befitting response”. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Afghan Taliban defence targets were hit in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar. Both sides reported dozens of soldiers killed in recent fighting.
Pakistan has released footage of overnight airstrikes on Kabul, claiming its jets targeted Taliban military facilities in response to what it called “unprovoked aggression”. Officials, quoted by local media, said the Pakistan Air Force hit multiple sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika in coordinated operations, reportedly destroying two brigade headquarters in the capital. The footage could not be independently verified. The strikes followed loud explosions in Kabul early on Friday, with residents reporting blasts, jets overhead and sustained gunfire.
Pakistan claims over 130 killed in overnight airstrikes on Kabul
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said 133 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed and more than 200 injured as part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, marking a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities.
“Afghan Taliban defence targets in Kabul, Paktika, and Kandahar were targeted, with the possibility of further casualties,” he said.
“Twenty-seven posts of the Afghan Taliban regime destroyed, 9 posts captured,” he said.
Tarar added that two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters and two sector headquarters had been destroyed, along with more than 80 tanks, artillery guns and armoured personnel carriers.
The update came hours after three explosions and the sound of aircraft were reported in Kabul, following Afghanistan’s cross-border attack on Pakistan late on Thursday. Kabul claimed it had captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts in retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes.
Pakistan has launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against the Afghan Taliban authorities after Kabul claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in cross-border strikes, sharply raising tensions along the Durand Line. State broadcaster PTV News said the move followed “unprovoked aggression”, reporting 58 Afghan fighters killed, more than 100 injured and 12 posts destroyed, alongside significant equipment losses. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described a “crushing response” and urged unity at home.
Pakistan Air Force launches targeted strikes on Taliban sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia: Report
Security sources told ARY News that the Pakistan Air Force carried out targeted airstrikes on key Taliban military installations in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, causing heavy damage. Two brigade headquarters were destroyed in Kabul, while strikes in Kandahar hit an army corps headquarters and a brigade base, along with an ammunition depot and logistics facility. A corps headquarters in Paktia was also targeted.
Loud explosion rocks Kabul as Pakistan launches major attack on Afghanistan
Loud explosion rocks Kabul, news agency AFP reported.
Pakistan launches overnight strikes on Afghanistan as border clashes intensify
The confrontation along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border escalated sharply overnight, with security sources saying Pakistan Air Force jets carried out strikes that destroyed a major ammunition depot in Nangarhar province, according to Geo TV.
A government official said 72 personnel of the Afghan Taliban regime were killed and more than 120 wounded in retaliatory action after what were described as unprovoked cross-border attacks on Pakistani positions.
Security sources told Geo TV that Operation Ghazab-lil-Haqq was launched in response to the Taliban regime’s actions. Twelve Afghan border posts were completely destroyed, while Pakistani forces captured five others and raised the national flag. Three Afghan battalions and a sector headquarters were also destroyed, along with more than 30 tanks, artillery guns and armoured personnel carriers.
Political leaders vow strong response amid rising tensions
Senior Pakistani leaders have signalled a firm stance. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the armed forces were delivering a crushing response to aggression from the Afghan Taliban and called for national unity, urging PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership to stand with the federal government.
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said Pakistan “will establish peace with our neighbors wherever possible, but we will never hesitate to counter the threats posed to Pakistan from their side.”
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi defended earlier Pakistani airstrikes as “precision strikes” targeting training camps of the Pakistani Taliban, insisting Pakistan had “nothing against the people of Afghanistan.”
Civilians displaced as fighting spreads to Torkham
Clashes spread to the Torkham border area, with both sides reporting exchanges of fire. Afghan authorities began evacuating a refugee camp near the crossing after several refugees were wounded. On the Pakistani side, local police said residents were moving to safer areas.
Pakistani police reported mortars fired from Afghanistan landing in nearby villages, though there were no reports of civilian casualties. Afghan officials accused Pakistan of striking civilian areas earlier in the week, including a religious madrassa and homes, claims Islamabad rejected.
Heavy weaponry and military installations targeted on both sides
Pakistani officials said extensive damage had been inflicted on Afghan Taliban military infrastructure. According to Mosharraf Zaidi, more than 36 tanks, artillery guns and armoured personnel carriers were destroyed. State broadcaster PTV News also reported the destruction of over 30 such vehicles.
The Pakistan Air Force reportedly launched an attack inside Nangarhar, destroying an ammunition depot. In Bajaur, Afghan Taliban fire targeted a mosque, severely damaging its roof, according to state media.
Afghanistan said it had launched large-scale offensive operations against Pakistani military bases along the Durand Line in retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes. Kabul said operations were taking place across five border provinces.
Conflicting casualty claims as border fighting intensifies
Both sides have issued sharply differing casualty figures as fighting continues along the Durand Line. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani security personnel had been martyred and three injured, while at least 36 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed during earlier clashes.
State media later reported higher figures, claiming between 44 and 72 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed in various phases of the operation, with dozens more injured and multiple posts destroyed.
Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, however, claimed “up to 55” Pakistani soldiers had been killed and that some had been captured — claims rejected by Pakistani officials.
Pakistan launches Operation Ghazab lil-Haq after ‘unprovoked aggression’
Pakistan has launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban regime following what it described as “unprovoked aggression”, according to state broadcaster PTV News. The operation comes after escalating border clashes and competing claims from both sides over casualties and territorial control.
PM’s spokesperson on Foreign Media Mosharraf Zaidi said counter strikes had been authorised in response to Afghan attacks, with several iterations already conducted. He said a total of 72 Afghan Taliban combatants had been terminated, more than 120 injured, 16 posts destroyed and seven captured. A large ammunition depot, a battalion headquarters and a sector headquarters were also destroyed.
Fresh fighting has erupted along the Afghanistan–Pakistan frontier, deepening an already volatile stand-off between the two neighbours. Kabul said its forces launched large-scale operations on Thursday in response to Pakistani airstrikes earlier in the week, claiming to have overrun more than a dozen Pakistani military posts along the disputed border.
Pakistan rejected those claims, confirming clashes but denying that any positions had fallen. Islamabad described Afghanistan’s action as “unprovoked” and said it was responding firmly to cross-border fire.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X that “large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line” in retaliation for what he called repeated aggression. Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said fighting was under way across five border provinces. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat claimed “up to 55” Pakistani soldiers had been killed and that some had been captured.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar disputed that account, saying two Pakistani soldiers had been killed and three wounded, while 36 Afghan fighters had died. A spokesman for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denied that any Pakistani troops had been taken prisoner.
Separate exchanges of fire were reported around the Torkham crossing, where Afghan authorities began evacuating a nearby refugee camp after several people were wounded. On the Pakistani side, residents also moved to safer areas. Police said mortars fired from Afghanistan landed in villages, though no civilian deaths were reported.
