Pakistan Declares 'Open War' with Afghanistan Following Cross-Border Clashes and Airstrikes

Following recent airstrikes and border skirmishes, Pakistan has declared that the conflict with Afghanistan has now transformed into an 'open war.' Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif announced on Friday morning via the social media platform X that the country's 'patience has run out,' stating that an open war situation now exists between the two nations.

He accused the Taliban government of choosing the opposite path of what was expected for establishing peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces. While the Taliban was expected to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability, he claimed that Afghanistan has been turned into an 'Indian colony,' bringing together extremists from around the world and starting to 'export terrorism.' He noted, "Our patience has now ended. We are now in an open war," though Afghan government officials have not immediately responded to his remarks.

Defense Minister Asif's comments came just hours after Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces. Pakistani officials and Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed these attacks were in response to cross-border attacks originating from Afghanistan. Although a ceasefire was brokered by Qatar and Turkey a few months ago, the latest developments indicate a resurgence of tensions.

Both countries claim to have inflicted heavy damage on the other, but these details could not be independently verified. Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense stated that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the nighttime operation, some bodies were taken to the Afghan side, and 'many were captured alive.' According to the ministry, eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 injured. Nineteen Pakistani posts and two bases were reportedly destroyed, and the skirmishes that began on Thursday stopped around midnight after about four hours.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three injured. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesperson, Musharraf Ali Zaidi, denied claims of any Pakistani soldiers being captured, stating that at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and over 200 injured. According to him, 27 Afghan posts were destroyed, and nine fighters were taken into custody. While the location of the casualties was not specified, it is estimated that significant damage was inflicted on military targets in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar.

Two senior security officials in Islamabad claimed that Afghan forces raised white flags at some border posts, which is generally taken as a signal to halt firing. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they stated that the Pakistani military responded strongly to the 'unprovoked attack' by the Afghan Taliban and destroyed key Taliban posts in the border areas.

Defense Minister Asif also accused the Taliban government of disregarding fundamental human rights, including those guaranteed to women under Islam, although detailed evidence regarding this was not presented. He stated that Pakistan had attempted to maintain stability directly and through friendly nations, but as aggression targeting Pakistan increased, its armed forces provided a 'decisive response.'

As tensions escalated, humanitarian consequences also began to emerge. Pakistani officials stated that dozens of Afghan refugees waiting to return from the northwestern Torkham border crossing were moved to safer locations after the clashes spread. Pakistan had initiated a widespread crackdown on undocumented immigrants since October 2023, during which many were urged to leave the country to avoid arrest and forced expulsion, while others were deported. Iran also began tightening restrictions on immigrants around the same time.

Since then, millions of people have crossed the border back to Afghanistan, including individuals born in Pakistan decades ago who had established lives and businesses there. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan last year alone, and about 80,000 have returned so far this year.

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