Cross-Border Strikes Escalate
After months of relative calm, violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan has surged. Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul and other cities early Friday, declaring “open war” after Taliban forces attacked Pakistani border posts. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad’s patience with the Taliban government had “run out.”
Pakistan’s military reported that Operation Ghazab lil Haq (“Righteous Fury”) killed 133 Taliban fighters and targeted key military installations, including brigade headquarters in Kabul and Kandahar, the latter home to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The Afghan Taliban confirmed strikes on three provinces and claimed retaliatory attacks had begun. Kabul’s Defence Ministry said eight soldiers were killed, while reports suggest Pakistani forces have captured several border posts.
Origins of the Conflict
The root of the tension lies in Pakistan’s long-standing accusation that the Taliban shelters Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistani territory. The TTP, formed in 2007, aims to overthrow the Pakistani government and impose its interpretation of Islamic law, and carried out over 1,000 violent incidents across Pakistan in 2025.
Although separate from the Afghan Taliban, the TTP shares ideological and social ties with the group. Pakistan also points to increased activity by the Balochistan Liberation Army and ongoing tensions along the 2,600-kilometre Durand Line, which Afghanistan has never formally recognised, arguing it unfairly divides the Pashtun population.
Geopolitical Dimensions and India Factor
Analysts suggest Pakistan’s frustration with Kabul also stems from perceived Afghan closeness to India. Defence Minister Asif accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into “a colony of India” and warned that Islamabad’s tolerance has ended, describing the situation as “open war.”
The Taliban rejected these claims, insisting Afghan territory has not been used against any state and describing Pakistan’s fight with the TTP as an internal issue. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Pakistan has carried out six airstrikes in Afghanistan. A Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October 2025 had held, but clashes and failed peace talks continued, highlighting the fragile and volatile nature of the border region.
