Pakistan air strikes on Kabul and other Afghan cities marked a sharp escalation in cross-border conflict on Friday, as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared the situation an “open war” with Afghanistan’s Taliban government.
Explosions were heard overnight in Kabul and Kandahar as Pakistani jets carried out strikes targeting what Islamabad described as Afghan Taliban defence positions. Afghan authorities confirmed the attacks but reported no immediate fatalities from the air strikes.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a statement that “Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia province and Kandahar." Khawaja Asif stated on social media that Pakistan’s patience had “reached its limit” and described the confrontation as an “all-out” response.
The escalation followed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday night, after Afghan forces reportedly attacked Pakistani troops in response to earlier strikes. Both militaries have reported casualties in recent days, though figures have not been independently verified.
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have intensified for months, with key land border crossings largely closed since October after fighting that left more than 70 people dead on both sides.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of failing to act against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for a surge in attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban government in Kabul denies harbouring or supporting militants targeting Pakistan.
South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman described the latest strikes as a “significant and dangerous escalation”, suggesting Pakistan has expanded its focus beyond TTP elements to direct confrontation with the Taliban administration.
Several diplomatic efforts have attempted to contain the conflict. Qatar and Turkey previously facilitated ceasefire talks, while Saudi Arabia recently mediated the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured in October. Iran, which borders both countries, has offered to facilitate dialogue to reduce tensions.
In Kabul, journalists reported hearing jets and multiple explosions before dawn, followed by sporadic gunfire. Streets remained largely quiet later in the day, consistent with Friday during Ramadan. Security presence in the capital did not appear significantly increased.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the air strikes caused no casualties but earlier announced “large-scale offensive operations” at the border in response to what he described as repeated violations by the Pakistani military. The Afghan defence ministry said eight of its soldiers were killed in ground fighting.
An Afghan provincial official in Nangarhar reported that a mortar shell struck a camp near the Torkham border crossing, injuring seven civilians, including one woman in serious condition. Afghan returnees from Pakistan have continued to cross the border despite broader restrictions.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country’s armed forces possess “full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions”, reinforcing the government’s hardline stance.
The conflict unfolds amid broader regional security concerns, including recent suicide bombings in both countries. An attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad killed at least 40 people, while Islamic State-Khorasan claimed responsibility for a separate suicide bombing in Kabul last month.
The current military escalation raises significant geopolitical risks in South Asia, with implications for regional security, cross-border trade and infrastructure stability.
