Explosive Military Escalation on Shared Frontier
Islamabad has announced that its military has entered an “open war” with Afghanistan following a surge of deadly cross-border fighting between Pakistani forces and the Afghan Taliban. In response to what Pakistan describes as repeated “unprovoked” attacks on its troops along the Durand Line border, the Pakistan Air Force carried out airstrikes targeting Taliban-controlled positions in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces on 27 February 2026. Pakistan’s defence leadership named the offensive Operation Ghazab Lil Haq and said its forces had inflicted significant losses on militant ranks while destroying key strongholds.
Afghan authorities, however, reported heavy damage inflicted on Pakistani military posts, including captured soldiers and destroyed outposts, and significantly higher losses among Pakistani troops than acknowledged by Islamabad. Both governments’ claims on casualty figures differ sharply, with Pakistan asserting it overcame hundreds of insurgents, while Afghanistan cites higher losses of Pakistani soldiers.
Civilians in the Crossfire and Refugee Outflows
Amid the military exchanges, civilians have borne the brunt of the violence. Explosions rocked residential areas in Kabul and at least one refugee camp near the Torkham border crossing, injuring women and children and prompting mass evacuations. The refugee camps, already strained by displacement, became zones of fear as families fled advancing shells and air raids.
Reports of injured and displaced residents underscore growing humanitarian concerns. Medical facilities in border provinces are struggling with casualties, and families are choosing to move deeper into safer regions to avoid the clashes that have upended life in once calmer villages.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Overtures
The rapid escalation has drawn reactions globally. India publicly condemned the airstrikes and reiterated support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty while rejecting Pakistan’s allegations of external interference in the conflict. Tehran has offered to act as a mediator, signalling regional interest in defusing tensions.
Meanwhile, major powers, including China, Russia, and the United Nations, are calling for calm and renewed diplomatic engagement to halt the spiral into full-blown war. These diplomatic urgings aim to revive ceasefire mechanisms brokered in previous months by international intermediaries, though prior agreements have already struggled to hold.
