Pakistan Claims Dozens of Taliban Fighters Killed in Airstrikes Across Afghanistan; Defense Minister Declares 'Open War'

Islamabad. Pakistan has claimed to have killed dozens of Afghan Taliban fighters in bombings across Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, and other cities. Following this, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced that Islamabad will now wage 'open war'.

Amidst a high risk of escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries turning into full-scale war, Defense Minister Asif stated on Friday that his country's 'patience has run out' with the Afghan Taliban authorities. Earlier, Afghan forces had attacked Pakistani military posts located on the shared border between the two countries. Asif stated that this attack was done under compulsion and was a response to Afghanistan's 'aggression'.

Meanwhile, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistani forces attacked Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces, but claimed there were no casualties. In the meantime, Al Jazeera and AFP reported that firing and shelling occurred near Torkham, the main border crossing between the two countries. According to AFP, Afghan soldiers were seen moving towards the border early on Friday morning.

According to Al Jazeera correspondent Naser Sadid in Kabul, the first airstrike in the Afghan capital occurred at 1:50 AM local time on Friday, immediately followed by a second strike. According to Sadid, Afghan anti-aircraft guns started firing after the first attack, and this continued after the second attack.

An Afghan government source confirmed to Al Jazeera that airstrikes occurred in Kabul and that Pakistani fighter jets also struck a military base in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister's spokesperson, Mosarraf Zaidi, claimed on Friday that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 were injured in Pakistan's attack. He stated that Taliban strongholds in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia were targeted. Zaidi informed that 9 Taliban strongholds were captured and 27 were destroyed, adding that Pakistani attacks were still ongoing.

Pakistan's Ministry of Information stated that Pakistan is also targeting Afghan Taliban forces in various districts of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur. However, Al Jazeera noted that the casualties claimed by both sides could not be independently verified.

Previous Attacks

Pakistan carried out these airstrikes after Afghanistan stated on Thursday that it had launched a large-scale offensive against Pakistani military posts and installations located on the shared border between the two countries.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, stating that some bodies were taken to Afghanistan and some were captured alive. Afghanistan reported that 8 of its soldiers were killed and 11 were injured in the clash.

The Ministry stated that 19 Pakistani military posts and two base camps were destroyed, and the fighting ended at midnight, about 4 hours after it began on Thursday. Pakistan had claimed on Sunday that at least 70 militants were killed in its attack, but Afghanistan denied this, stating that civilians were killed.

Poor Relations

A statement issued from the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the entire nation stands united behind Pakistan's armed forces. The statement read, 'The people of Pakistan and its armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,' adding, 'No compromise will be made to defend our beloved homeland, and any aggression will be met with a strong response.'

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which share a 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) border, have significantly deteriorated following clashes last October that resulted in the deaths of over 70 people on both sides of the border.

This tension arose from Pakistan's accusation that Kabul allows armed groups like the Pakistani Taliban to use Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Pakistani Taliban has deep ideological ties with the Afghan Taliban but is a completely separate group.

'Pakistan made every effort to normalize the situation through direct channels and friendly nations,' said Pakistani Defense Minister Asif, 'Diplomatic efforts were also fully exhausted. But the Taliban became a proxy for India.'

'Pakistan's role in the past has been positive. It has sheltered 5 million Afghans for 50 years. Even today, millions of Afghans earn their livelihood on our soil. But our patience has run out. An open war has now begun between you and us,' Asif stated.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai wrote a message on social media platform X, stating that amidst the attacks, Afghans will 'defend their beloved homeland with complete unity under any circumstances and respond bravely to aggression.'

He added, 'Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombing it has created. It must change its policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan.'

'Seriously Tense Situation'

Kamal Haider, Al Jazeera's correspondent reporting from Islamabad, said, 'Based on what we have seen so far, there has been significant human loss. This is a seriously tense situation, perhaps the worst since the Taliban took power.'

Elizabeth Threlkeld, Director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington D.C., noted that the recent clashes were not surprising given the deteriorating relations between the neighbors for months. Pointing to the 'more aggressive attacks' coming from Pakistan, she suggested there might be a shift in strategy.

'We have seen some major terrorist attacks inside Pakistan,' she said, 'It is not surprising to me that tensions escalated following this series of attacks and unfortunately the situation moved in this direction.'

Appeal for Restraint

The United Nations has called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions. UN Secretary-General's spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said, 'The Secretary-General urges all parties to adhere to their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to ensure the safety of civilians.'

He added, 'The Secretary-General urges the parties to continue efforts to resolve any differences through diplomatic means and commends the mediation efforts made by many member states in recent months.'

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian mentioned on X that Iran is ready to support the process if Afghanistan and Pakistan resolve their differences through dialogue and the principles of good neighborliness.

Russia has also urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to stop the attacks and resolve differences through diplomatic means. Furthermore, Russian state media reported that Moscow is ready to mediate if requested.

Meanwhile, former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, stated on Thursday that the recent reciprocal attacks must stop. 'The best option is a diplomatic agreement where neither country allows its territory to be used to threaten the security of the other country,' he said.

'The implementation of this agreement should be monitored by a credible third party, such as Turkey. This approach is much wiser than continuing attacks and counter-attacks.'

Ceasefire Agreed Last October Between Both Sides

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire last October following talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Turkey. That negotiation took place after more than a week of fierce clashes and Pakistani airstrikes along their 2,600-kilometer border, following Islamabad's demand that Kabul control militants increasing cross-border attacks.

Afghanistan has consistently denied harboring armed groups to attack Pakistan. Conversely, it has accused the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation and harboring ISIL-affiliated militants that undermine the country's stability and sovereignty.

Comparison of Military Strength of Pakistan and Afghanistan in Figures

Military Personnel Count

• Pakistan: 660,000
• Afghanistan: 172,000

Tanks and Armored Vehicles

• Pakistan: Over 6,000 armored fighting vehicles and over 4,600 artillery pieces.
• Afghanistan: Some armored vehicles and artillery (mostly Soviet-era), but the exact number is unclear.

Air Power

• Pakistan: Operating 465 fighter jets and over 260 helicopters.
• Afghanistan: Has no fighter jets. Only some old aircraft and helicopters are available, and their operational status is uncertain.

Nuclear Capability

• Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state, possessing an estimated 170 warheads.
• Afghanistan has no nuclear capability.