Pakistan hits Kabul as border war fears grow

Pakistan said it had entered “open war” with Afghanistan, after air strikes hit Kabul and other Afghan cities following deadly cross-border clashes, according to The National and agencies on February 27th.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government said drones were used in the attacks and claimed it launched retaliatory air operations against “key” Pakistani military sites and installations. Explosions were heard across Kabul early February 27th, which Pakistan said were strikes on “defence locations” in the Afghan capital.

“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it’s an open war between us,” Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X. “Now there will be chaos and reckoning.”

The escalation triggered urgent diplomacy. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with a representative of Qatar’s foreign ministry, while Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said he would hold calls with officials in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim earlier in the week as Islamabad sought to deepen ties.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged both sides to resolve differences through talks and said Tehran was ready to help facilitate dialogue. Russia called for an immediate ceasefire to cross-border attacks and said it could consider mediation if requested. Saudi Arabia said its foreign minister discussed steps to reduce tensions with Islamabad, pointing to the countries’ expanding security co-operation.

Both sides issued competing casualty claims. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani forces destroyed Taliban sites in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, claiming 133 “Taliban operatives” killed and more than 200 wounded. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the toll, describing the strikes as “cowardly” and saying no casualties had been reported, while also alleging Pakistani losses in border fighting.

Tensions have risen since Islamabad accused the Taliban of sheltering militant groups planning attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation Kabul denies, after a peace regulated by Qatar and Turkey in October failed to hold.

The National plus agencies, Maghreb.org