Overnight Strikes Escalate the Conflict
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have erupted after months of relative calm along their 2,600-kilometre mountainous border. Early Friday, Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul and other Afghan cities, declaring “open war” following Taliban attacks on Pakistani border positions.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government’s patience with the Afghan Taliban had “run out.” The military’s Operation Ghazab lil Haq, or “Righteous Fury,” reportedly killed 133 Taliban fighters and struck key military installations, including sites in Kabul and Kandahar, where Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada resides.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed strikes across three provinces and said retaliatory attacks had begun. Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry reported eight soldiers killed. Both sides claim targeted military action, with reports indicating Pakistani forces have seized several border posts.
Origins and Drivers of the Violence
The immediate trigger was Taliban attacks on Pakistani positions along the Durand Line, described by Mujahid as “large-scale offensive operations.” Taliban officials say these were retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes in February that hit Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces, killing at least 18 people. Pakistan insists it targeted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan extremist camps.
At the heart of the conflict is Islamabad’s long-standing claim that the Afghan Taliban shelters TTP militants responsible for attacks in Pakistan. Although separate from the Afghan Taliban, TTP maintains ideological and social ties with the group. Pakistan also faces rising attacks from the Balochistan Liberation Army, particularly in border provinces, compounding security concerns.
The Durand Line itself remains a major point of contention, with Afghanistan refusing to formally recognise it, arguing it unjustly divides the Pashtun population.
Regional Politics and India’s Role
Analysts suggest Pakistan’s frustrations are fueled not only by cross-border attacks but also by concerns over Afghanistan’s growing ties with India. Defence Minister Asif accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan “into a colony of India” while ignoring Pakistan’s security needs. He warned that Pakistan’s “cup of patience has overflowed,” framing the airstrikes as a firm message to Kabul.
The Taliban government rejected these allegations, insisting it has consistently sought positive relations with neighbours and has not used Afghan territory against any state. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has faced six Pakistani airstrikes, with at least 75 clashes reported since the U.S. withdrawal. A Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October 2025 briefly reduced violence, but intermittent clashes and failed peace talks have kept tensions high, leaving the region on edge over the possibility of a broader war.
