Military hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated sharply on February 26–27, with air strikes reported in Kabul and multiple Afghan provinces, retaliatory cross-border attacks, and fiery statements from Islamabad declaring the situation an “open war.”
Amid the spiralling confrontation, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif accused the Taliban government of acting as a proxy for India, once again bringing New Delhi into a conflict not directly involving it.
Air Strikes and Retaliation Along the Durand Line
According to statements from the Taliban administration, Afghan forces launched attacks on Pakistani military positions on February 26, describing the action as retaliation for earlier Pakistani air strikes that allegedly caused civilian casualties.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani aircraft bombed areas in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence stated that coordinated counter-operations were carried out across sectors near the Durand Line, including Paktika, Khost, Nangarhar and Kunar.
The Taliban claimed:
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55 Pakistani soldiers were killed
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Multiple military posts were captured
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Weapons and equipment were seized
Islamabad rejected these claims. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that only two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three injured, while asserting that 36 Afghan fighters died in the clashes.
Reports also emerged of explosions heard in Kabul during the early hours of February 27, along with unverified claims that an aircraft may have been shot down. These claims remain contested.
Ceasefire Collapses
The current escalation follows months of tension despite an October 2025 ceasefire agreement brokered in Doha by Qatar and Turkiye. Skirmishes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border have persisted since then, particularly around Torkham and other sensitive crossings.
The Durand Line a historically disputed border continues to be a flashpoint, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
“Open War” Rhetoric From Islamabad
In a dramatic statement, Khawaja Asif declared that Pakistan’s patience had run out and described the situation as an “open war.” He accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into what he called a “colony of India” and claimed that Kabul was exporting terrorism under Indian influence.
Asif wrote that after NATO’s withdrawal, Pakistan had hoped for regional peace, but instead faced aggression. He asserted that Pakistan’s armed forces were delivering a “decisive response.”
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a warning, stating that Pakistan would not compromise on its territorial integrity and that any aggression would be met firmly.
India Dragged Into the Narrative
Despite the conflict being directly between Islamabad and Kabul, Pakistan’s leadership publicly blamed India, alleging that Afghanistan’s Taliban government was functioning as a proxy.
India has not issued any statement directly connected to the accusations at the time of reporting.
