Pakistani air strikes hit a weapons depot on the western outskirts of Kabul overnight, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the Afghan capital and left residents fearing further violence.
The strikes were part of a sharp escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban authorities, with the once-close allies also trading cross-border attacks and Pakistan describing the situation as open conflict.
Security sources in Pakistan said the strikes involved air-to-ground missile attacks on Taliban military offices and posts in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia province in response to Afghan attacks on Thursday (26 February).
The Taliban, which denies sponsoring attacks on Pakistan, said it launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military installations but remains open to dialogue.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned, “Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan).”
Both sides reported heavy losses, though figures differ sharply. Pakistani military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, “An effective, immediate and brutal response was given,” claiming 274 Taliban officials and militants were killed, while at least 12 Pakistani soldiers died.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 posts seized. He reported eight fighters killed, 11 wounded and 13 civilians injured in Nangarhar province during retaliatory operations.
Multiple ground clashes were reported along the border, with Reuters unable to independently verify the casualty figures.
"Pakistani counter-strikes against targets in Afghanistan continue," a Pakistani government spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, said in a post on X, describing the action as a response to "unprovoked Afghan attacks."
Panic in Kabul
Reuters verified video showed thick plumes of black smoke and fires in Kabul.
A local taxi driver described: “We woke up, and the plane came and dropped two bombs, then flew away again. After that, we heard explosions… Everyone, in panic, ran down from the second floor of the house. The ammunition inside the depot kept exploding on its own.”
Ambulance sirens and the sound of jets were reported across the city.
Analysts warn the strikes could trigger a prolonged conflict along the 2,600-km frontier. Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, holds superior military capabilities, while the Taliban are experienced in guerrilla warfare.
Kabul and the United Nations reported civilian casualties, including at least 13 deaths, while Islamabad denied targeting civilians. Pakistan’s Punjab province raised security alert levels and detained 90 Afghan nationals for deportation.
Mujahid underlined their preference for dialogue, saying, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always tried to resolve issues through dialogue and now also we want to resolve this matter through dialogue.”
Tensions have risen amid militant attacks in Pakistan, which Islamabad attributes to the Pakistani Taliban and banned Baloch separatist groups.
Kabul rejects claims that Afghan territory is used to shelter militants. Disputes over the Durand Line and Pakistan’s deportation campaign targeting undocumented Afghans have further strained relations.
Regional powers are attempting to mediate. Russia, China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have been involved, while Iran offered assistance despite ongoing nuclear talks with the U.S. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Qatar’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “Beijing is deeply concerned about the escalating clashes and is willing to play a constructive role in helping to cool tensions between the two sides.”
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi confirmed that regional issues, “including possibly Afghanistan,” had been discussed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Doha. The diplomatic exchange comes against the backdrop of renewed military tensions along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.
The situation remains fluid as border clashes continue alongside diplomatic efforts. Both sides maintain heavy military presence and exchanges of fire, with civilians caught in the crossfire and regional powers attempting to de-escalate the crisis.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy...
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s effor...
China’s GJ-21 carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone has completed its first take-off and landing on board the Sichuan, the co...
The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
People travelling between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan could soon be able to pay for purchases using their usual banking apps. Central banks from the five countries are working on linking their national payment systems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment