Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday said the country is in “open war” with Afghanistan after Islamabad carried out airstrikes on Afghan territory following attacks on Pakistani military posts near the border.
“Our patience has now run out,” Asif said, referring to Thursday night’s offensive by the Afghan Taliban on Pakistani positions.
The latest escalation comes amid months of cross-border clashes despite a fragile ceasefire agreed in October. Previous negotiations failed to reach a comprehensive deal, with both sides blaming each other for lack of sincerity, reports BBC.
The Taliban said it had launched a “retaliatory operation” on Thursday evening, claiming to capture 19 Pakistani military posts and two bases, and asserting that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed. Pakistan denied the claims, saying the Taliban had “miscalculated” by opening unprovoked fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting an “immediate and effective response” by its forces.
Early Friday, Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika, targeting Taliban positions. Military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 22 Afghan targets were hit, claiming over 200 Taliban fighters were killed, with 12 Pakistani soldiers dead. The Taliban, however, said 13 fighters were killed, 22 injured, and 13 civilians wounded. Independent verification of the casualties is not available.
The Taliban also claimed to have carried out airstrikes using drones against Pakistani military positions in Kandahar and Helmand, while Pakistan said it thwarted drone attacks on Swabi, Nowshera, and Abbottabad.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed that the country had “full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions” and insisted there would be “no compromise” in defending its homeland.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to ease tensions. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held talks with his Turkish and Saudi counterparts to discuss peace and stability. Iran offered to facilitate dialogue between the two countries, while UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urged immediate steps toward de-escalation and protection of civilians.
Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban government of supporting “anti-Pakistan terrorists” responsible for recent attacks, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad.