Two Muslim Nations in Open War: Pakistan Launches Airstrikes on Afghanistan

Pakistan has announced “open war” against the Taliban government in Afghanistan following clashes between the two nations. Pakistan confirmed it conducted airstrikes on Afghan cities Kabul and Kandahar on Friday morning, 27 February 2026, hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops.

The Taliban government characterised the Afghan military response as retaliation for deadly earlier airstrikes. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that “Taliban Afghanistan’s defence targets became the objective in Kabul, Paktia province, and Kandahar.” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi added that “Pakistan’s armed forces have given a commensurate response to open Taliban aggression.”

Reports indicate significant casualties, with wounded Afghan women receiving treatment at a hospital in Jalalabad. Afghanistan subsequently launched counter-attacks against Pakistani forces along their shared border following the Pakistani airstrikes.

Pakistan has accused the Afghan government for years of allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a splinter group of the Taliban, to use Afghan territory as a safe haven to plan and execute attacks across the border into Pakistan.