Pakistan Declares Open War Following Afghan Strikes
Pakistan's defence minister has declared that the country is in "open war" with Afghanistan after Islamabad conducted airstrikes on Kabul amid a series of attacks across Pakistan.
"Our patience has now run out,"
stated Khawaja Muhammad Asif in response to the escalating conflict.
Background of Recent Clashes
The airstrikes followed an announcement by the Afghan Taliban of a major offensive against Pakistani military posts near the border on Thursday night. These events are part of ongoing clashes between the two neighboring countries despite a fragile ceasefire agreement reached in October.
Negotiations held last year failed to produce a comprehensive agreement to end hostilities, with both sides accusing each other of not engaging earnestly in the talks.
Sequence of Attacks and Retaliations
On Thursday, the Taliban military declared a "retaliatory operation" launched at approximately 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT). Pakistan responded swiftly, accusing the Taliban of having "miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations" along the border in its north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Islamabad's security forces reportedly delivered an "immediate and effective response."
Subsequently, in the early hours of Friday, Pakistan conducted a series of bombing raids targeting locations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika. These strikes were described by Pakistani officials as retaliation for "unprovoked Afghan attacks." All three cities are situated near the shared mountainous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which extends approximately 2,600 km (1,615 miles).
Afghan Taliban's Response and Drone Strikes
In reaction to the Pakistani strikes, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan Taliban spokesman, posted on X that the group had launched strikes early on Friday against Pakistani military positions in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. This post was later deleted.
The Afghan Taliban has asserted that it carried out air strikes on multiple targets within Pakistan on Friday morning. According to sources within the Taliban government, these operations involved drones launched from Afghanistan.
Pakistan's Information Minister Atta Tarar reported that the Pakistani military intercepted Afghan drones targeting Swabi, Nowshera, and Abbottabad. Abbottabad is notable as a military garrison city housing the army's military academy.
Statements from Pakistani Leadership
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed his country's military strength, stating that its forces possess "the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions." He further vowed that there would be "no compromise" in defending their "beloved homeland."
Impact on Civilians and Border Tensions
In Afghanistan, Taliban officials claimed on Friday that Pakistani rockets struck a refugee camp in Nangarhar province, which shelters Afghan citizens recently returned from Pakistan. They reported that at least nine people were injured. The BBC has not independently verified this claim.
Residents and local officials in the Afghan cities affected by the strikes told BBC Afghan that the situation appeared to have calmed since the attacks. Nevertheless, individuals on both sides of the border remain on high alert amid ongoing tensions.
Ongoing Hostilities and Accusations
Despite the fragile ceasefire agreed upon in October, broader negotiations to end hostilities have stalled, with both Pakistan and Afghanistan blaming each other for the failure to engage seriously.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of supporting "anti-Pakistan terrorists," whom it holds responsible for suicide attacks within Pakistan, including a recent attack at a mosque in the capital.
