Cross-Border Strikes Mark a Dangerous Escalation
After months of relative quiet, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have flared dramatically along their 2,600-kilometre mountainous frontier. Pakistan launched airstrikes early Friday targeting Kabul and other key cities, calling it an act of “open war” in response to Taliban attacks on Pakistani border positions.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government’s patience had “run out” following cross-border assaults the night before. The military announced the launch of Operation Ghazab lil Haq (“Righteous Fury”), claiming it killed 133 Taliban fighters and struck military facilities in Kabul and Kandahar, the latter being home to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The Taliban government confirmed strikes hit three provinces and said retaliation had already begun. Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry reported eight soldiers killed, while both sides exchanged claims about drone attacks and captured border posts.
A Long-Simmering Dispute
The latest violence was triggered by what Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid described as “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani positions along the Durand Line. The Taliban said these actions were retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes in February that killed at least 18 people in eastern Afghanistan. Islamabad insists those strikes targeted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan Province fighters.
At the heart of the conflict is Pakistan’s accusation that Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers shelter TTP militants, who aim to overthrow the Pakistani state. Though formally separate, the TTP shares ideological and historical ties with the Afghan Taliban. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), the group carried out more than 1,000 violent incidents inside Pakistan in 2025.
The Durand Line itself remains a major source of friction. Afghanistan has never formally recognised the border, arguing it divides Pashtun communities unjustly. Border provinces such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have experienced rising violence, compounded by increased activity from separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army.
Regional Politics Add Fuel to the Fire
Beyond security concerns, analysts say geopolitical tensions may also be at play. Islamabad has voiced frustration over what it sees as growing ties between Kabul and New Delhi. In a social media post, Asif accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into “a colony of India,” framing Pakistan’s military response as both defensive and political.
The Taliban government rejected those accusations, saying it seeks constructive relations with all neighbours and denying any support for TTP. It described Pakistan’s fight with the group as an internal matter.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Pakistan has carried out multiple airstrikes inside Afghanistan. While a Qatar-brokered ceasefire in late 2025 temporarily reduced hostilities, dozens of clashes have occurred since the withdrawal of US forces, and peace talks have failed to produce a lasting agreement.
With both sides trading airstrikes and strong rhetoric, fears are growing that continued escalation could tip the region toward a broader and more sustained conflict.
