Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a critical breaking point today, February 27, 2026, as Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, formally declared an “open war” against the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan. This dramatic announcement follows days of intense, tit-for-tat cross-border airstrikes and artillery fire that have shaken regional stability.
A Rapid Escalation
The conflict, which has been simmering for months, escalated sharply following a series of events throughout the week. On February 21, Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces, targeting what Islamabad described as militant camps belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K).
In response, the Afghan government launched what it described as a “large-scale offensive operation” against Pakistani military installations along the border, known as the Durand Line, late on February 26. Afghanistan’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed that Afghan forces had struck Pakistani military positions, claiming these actions were retaliatory.
“Patience Has Run Out”
Following the Afghan response, Pakistan launched further strikes early on February 27, targeting locations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. In a statement posted online, Khawaja Mohammad Asif declared that Pakistan’s “patience has run out,” signaling that the government is no longer limiting its response to border skirmishes.
“Now it is an open war between you and us,” Khawaja Mohammad Asif wrote, framing the confrontation as a necessity to protect Pakistan’s territorial integrity and national security.
Conflicting Reports
Both sides have provided vastly different accounts of the damage and casualties:
- Pakistan’s Position: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan’s “intelligence-based” operations have successfully targeted militant hideouts, claiming that over 133 Taliban fighters have been killed and hundreds more wounded.
- Afghanistan’s Position: The Afghan Ministry of Defence has rejected these claims, asserting that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the fighting and that Afghan forces destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases. Afghanistan also reported civilian casualties, including women and children, resulting from Pakistani airstrikes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the military’s determination to secure the nation, stating that Pakistan will not compromise on its peace or sovereignty.
International bodies, including the United Nations, have expressed deep concern over the surge in violence, with nations such as Russia, China, and Iran urging both sides to de-escalate and return to diplomatic negotiations to avoid further destabilization of the region.
