Pakistan launched overnight airstrikes against the Afghan capital Kabul and several border provinces, killing at least four people and wounding 15 others, according to Afghan authorities cited by the Hindustan Times. The attacks prompted Pakistan's defense minister to declare Friday that the two countries are now in a state of "open war," as reported by the Associated Press.
A Pakistani security official confirmed the operation to France 24, stating the strikes targeted positions of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). The airstrikes hit both Kabul and provinces along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, marking a significant escalation in hostilities between the neighboring nations.
The attacks came hours after Afghan troops had attacked Pakistani border positions, according to The New York Times. Cross-border tensions have been mounting for months, with Pakistan stepping up strikes in Afghanistan amid rising militant activity, France 24 reported.
The escalation represents one of the biggest flare-ups in outright hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2021, according to Time magazine cited by The Week. The two countries had maintained a fragile ceasefire arrangement, but recent events have shattered that stability.
This latest conflict adds another layer of instability to an already volatile region grappling with multiple simultaneous crises. The Afghanistan-Pakistan border tensions emerge as the Middle East remains engulfed in conflict, with ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and broader regional proxy battles involving Iran and its allies.
The timing proves particularly challenging for international diplomatic efforts, which are already stretched thin addressing conflicts across the Middle East. Regional powers and global stakeholders now face the prospect of managing yet another border dispute that could further destabilize South and Central Asia.
Pakistani forces specifically targeted what they described as military installations in Kabul and border areas, according to The Guardian's reporting. The strikes represent a dramatic departure from previous diplomatic approaches to managing cross-border militant activities.
Afghan Taliban authorities condemned the attacks and have vowed to respond to what they view as unprovoked aggression. The deteriorating relationship between the two countries threatens to complicate regional security arrangements and humanitarian access to Afghanistan.
The escalation occurs against a backdrop of Pakistan's ongoing struggle with domestic terrorism, particularly from TTP militants who use Afghan territory as a staging ground for attacks. Islamabad has repeatedly demanded that Afghan Taliban authorities crack down on these groups.
International observers warn that the "open war" declaration could signal a prolonged period of cross-border violence. The conflict threatens to further isolate Afghanistan's Taliban government and complicate Pakistan's already strained relationships with regional neighbors and international partners.