Pakistan Strikes Airstrikes on the Capital of Afghanistan, Kabul 0 11

Taliban fighters on the Afghan-Pakistani border during armed clashes in October 2025. Photo: Stringer/REUTERS Pakistan carried out airstrikes on several cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, on the night of Friday, February 27. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated on social media platform X that after several months of armed clashes, tensions between the two neighboring countries have escalated into an "open war." The country's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed on X that the Pakistan Army targeted sites in Kabul, as well as in the provinces of Paktia and Kandahar. "Our forces are capable of crushing any aggressive ambitions," later stated Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. "The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistani armed forces."

Last week, Pakistan already conducted several nighttime airstrikes on Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people, including women and children, according to the Taliban. Islamabad stated that the strikes were aimed at alleged militant camps near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to a series of recent suicide attacks by terrorists in Pakistan.

On Thursday, February 26, Afghan Taliban reported that they conducted a "major offensive" on border posts and killed "many" Pakistani soldiers. Pakistani authorities have so far confirmed the death of two military personnel.

In recent months, relations between the Taliban government in Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply deteriorated. Islamabad accuses the authorities of the neighboring country of inaction regarding armed groups that carry out terrorist attacks on its territory. The Taliban reject these accusations.

Conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan

In the fall of 2025, Islamabad demanded that Kabul take action against the "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan" (TTP) - a Pakistani armed Islamist group (also known as the Pakistani Taliban), closely linked to the Afghan Taliban.

In October, two explosions rocked Kabul, for which the Taliban blamed Islamabad, after which Afghan forces opened fire on Pakistani military personnel at border posts. In response, the Pakistan Army struck with heavy artillery, tanks, drones, and scrambled fighter jets.

As a result of these attacks, Taliban representatives reported the deaths of nine Afghan and 58 Pakistani soldiers, as well as the temporary capture of 20 border posts of the neighboring state. Pakistani media, citing sources in the security forces, reported the deaths of 23 of their soldiers, the killing of over 200 "Taliban and associated terrorists," and gaining control over 19 Afghan border posts.

Clashes continued until the end of October 2025, when the parties agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey. However, subsequent negotiations did not lead to a peace agreement.