Pakistan's defence minister declared Tuesday that the country is now in "open war" with Afghanistan after Pakistani forces conducted bombing operations targeting multiple Afghan cities. The stark proclamation represents the most serious escalation in tensions between the neighboring nations since the Taliban's return to power in Kabul in August 2021. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made the declaration during a heated parliamentary session in Islamabad following the cross-border strikes.
The military strikes hit targets across Afghanistan on Monday night, marking a significant departure from Pakistan's previous diplomatic approach to cross-border security concerns. Pakistani F-16 fighter jets and artillery units targeted what officials described as terrorist training camps and weapons depots in the eastern Afghan provinces of Khost and Paktika. The operations lasted approximately four hours and involved coordinated air and ground-based attacks along a 200-kilometer stretch of the border.
Pakistani officials justified the operations as necessary responses to ongoing security threats emanating from Afghan territory following a series of deadly attacks inside Pakistan. The strikes specifically targeted facilities allegedly used by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who had recently launched coordinated attacks on Pakistani military checkpoints. Intelligence sources reported that at least 15 suspected militants were killed in the operations, though these figures could not be independently verified.
Afghanistan's Taliban government condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty and threatened immediate retaliatory measures. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid called the attacks "unprovoked aggression" and warned that Afghanistan reserves the right to defend its territory through all available means. The Taliban's acting defence minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, ordered military units along the Pakistan border to "prepare for appropriate response" to any further Pakistani incursions.
The escalation stems from Pakistan's long-standing complaints about cross-border terrorism and the presence of Pakistani Taliban fighters operating from Afghan soil. Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan has documented over 300 cross-border terrorist incidents resulting in more than 500 Pakistani military and civilian casualties. The TTP has significantly increased its operational tempo from Afghan safe havens, launching attacks that have killed dozens of Pakistani security personnel in recent months.
Despite sharing ethnic Pashtun populations and religious ties, relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have grown increasingly strained over border security issues. Pakistan had initially welcomed the Taliban's return to power, hoping for improved cooperation against anti-Pakistani militants. However, the Taliban's reluctance or inability to control TTP operations has created deep frustration within Pakistan's military establishment and civilian leadership.
The historical context reveals decades of complex relationships between Pakistan's security services and various Afghan militant groups. During the 1980s Soviet-Afghan War, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency trained and supported the mujahideen fighters who later evolved into the Taliban. Pakistan was one of only three countries to formally recognize the Taliban government during their first rule from 1996 to 2001, maintaining close ties even as international isolation deepened.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks and subsequent U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan faced enormous pressure to abandon its Taliban allies and support American counterterrorism operations. This policy reversal created lasting tensions within Pakistan's security establishment and contributed to the emergence of anti-Pakistani militant groups. The TTP was formed in 2007 as an umbrella organization of Pakistani Taliban factions seeking to overthrow the Pakistani state and establish Islamic rule.
Regional powers are watching the situation with growing alarm as the conflict threatens to destabilize an already volatile region. China, which maintains significant economic interests in both countries through its Belt and Road Initiative, has called for immediate de-escalation and dialogue between the parties. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed Beijing's concern that continued conflict could undermine regional development projects worth billions of dollars.
Iran, which shares borders with both nations, expressed serious concern about the potential for broader regional spillover effects. Iranian officials privately worry that increased instability could trigger refugee flows and disrupt Tehran's efforts to maintain stable relations with the Taliban government. The Islamic Republic has invested considerable diplomatic capital in building pragmatic ties with Kabul since the American withdrawal.
The timing of Pakistan's military action coincides with mounting domestic pressure on Islamabad to take decisive action against cross-border terrorism. Recent TTP attacks on Pakistani military installations in North and South Waziristan killed 23 soldiers and wounded dozens more, prompting public demands for stronger military responses. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif faced intense criticism from opposition parties and military hawks who accused his government of weakness in confronting terrorist threats.
Intelligence sources indicate that the strikes targeted specific training camps and logistics hubs used by anti-Pakistani militant groups operating under TTP leadership. The operations reportedly hit facilities in the Birmal area of Paktika province and the Spera district of Khost province, both known TTP strongholds. Pakistani military officials claimed the strikes achieved their tactical objectives and significantly degraded militant capabilities, destroying weapons caches and communication equipment.
The international community has expressed deep concern about the escalating conflict and its potential regional implications. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for immediate restraint from both sides and offered UN mediation services to prevent further escalation. European Union High Representative Josep Borrell emphasized the importance of diplomatic solutions and warned against actions that could further destabilize an already fragile regional security environment.
Economic consequences are already emerging as the conflict threatens vital trade routes between the countries worth approximately $2 billion annually. The Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossings at Torkham and Chaman handle the majority of bilateral trade, and any prolonged closure could have severe economic impacts on both nations. Afghan businesses, already struggling under international sanctions and economic collapse, face additional pressure from the deteriorating security situation.
The escalation poses particular challenges for Pakistan's relationship with China, which has invested over $62 billion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project since 2015. Chinese officials privately expressed concern that increased instability along Pakistan's western border could threaten infrastructure investments and disrupt planned development projects. Beijing has urged both sides to prioritize regional stability over military confrontation, fearing that conflict could undermine its broader Belt and Road Initiative.
Military analysts warn that the current trajectory could lead to a prolonged conflict with devastating consequences for both countries' already fragile economies and security situations. Afghanistan's economy, which contracted by 35 percent since the Taliban's return to power, cannot sustain a military confrontation with its powerful neighbor. Pakistan, meanwhile, faces the prospect of managing conflicts on multiple fronts if the situation continues to deteriorate, stretching its military resources thin.
The Taliban's military capabilities, while sufficient for asymmetric warfare, are no match for Pakistan's conventional forces and modern air power. However, the group's extensive experience with guerrilla tactics and intimate knowledge of Afghan terrain could enable them to impose significant costs on Pakistani forces. Previous Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas have often achieved tactical success while failing to resolve underlying strategic problems or eliminate terrorist safe havens.
Humanitarian organizations are preparing for potential refugee flows as civilians near the border areas face increasing insecurity and cross-border shelling. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has activated contingency plans for population movements, though officials hope diplomatic intervention can prevent mass displacement. Local communities on both sides of the border have already begun relocating away from areas of military activity, creating additional strain on already limited resources.
The crisis tests the Taliban's ability to function as a responsible government while maintaining their ideological commitments to supporting Islamic movements across the region. The group faces the difficult balance of satisfying Pakistani security demands while preserving their credibility among supporters who view Pakistan's actions as foreign aggression against a sovereign Islamic state. This tension reflects broader challenges the Taliban faces in transitioning from an insurgent movement to a governing authority.
Regional security experts emphasize that the conflict's resolution requires addressing root causes rather than merely managing symptoms through military action. The presence of multiple militant groups operating across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border reflects deeper issues of governance, economic development, and political legitimacy that cannot be resolved through airstrikes alone. Both governments must demonstrate genuine commitment to comprehensive solutions that address legitimate security concerns while respecting sovereignty principles and international law.
The coming days will prove critical in determining whether diplomatic intervention can prevent further escalation or if the region faces the prospect of protracted military conflict. International mediators are working urgently to establish communication channels between Pakistani and Taliban leadership, but the success of these efforts remains uncertain given the high stakes and deep mistrust. The potential for miscalculation or accidental escalation remains high as military forces on both sides maintain heightened alert status along the volatile border region.