Pakistan has declared “open war” on Afghanistan after a large-scale cross-border assault led to the most serious confrontation between the two countries in years. Fighting intensified rapidly, with Pakistani forces launching airstrikes deep inside Afghan territory, including in Kabul. The strikes pushed the conflict well beyond the disputed frontier region.
Pakistani officials said the overnight raids hit multiple targets in Kabul and Kandahar. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the strikes as a calibrated response to what Islamabad called an Afghan-initiated attack along the border a day earlier. Defense Minister Asif Khawaja said Pakistan’s patience had run out, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Pakistan has released video footage of airstrikes on Kabul, saying they targeted Taliban facilities in response to what it called “unprovoked aggression.”
Meanwhile, the Taliban have threatened to retaliate for the strikes on Kabul by bombing Pakistani cities. pic.twitter.com/WjAW5bObTy
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 26, 2026
Rising Casualties and Conflicting Narratives
Afghan authorities said they launched large-scale attacks on Pakistani border positions in response to earlier Pakistani bombardments over the weekend. A government spokesperson stated that Afghan forces struck 15 forward Pakistani military posts and inflicted dozens of casualties.
Islamabad rejected that claim and said its forces targeted militant compounds. Information Minister Ataullah Tarar reported that Pakistani air operations killed at least 133 Afghan combatants and wounded more than 200. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif repeated those figures.
An AFP source reported that the initial exchanges killed more than 80 people. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said a ground assault launched from Nangarhar and Kunar provinces left eight Afghan soldiers dead.
Afghan officials confirmed that Pakistani aircraft struck Kabul as well as Paktia and Kandahar provinces but said those specific raids caused no casualties.
⚡️ New war? Clashes erupt on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border
Taliban representatives have announced that they have launched attacks on Pakistani positions along the border in response to Pakistan's airstrikes last week. pic.twitter.com/nI3mva4aWq
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 26, 2026
Border Closures and Deepening Tensions
Tensions between nuclear-armed Pakistan and Afghanistan have worsened in recent months. Earlier clashes in October killed more than 70 people and forced authorities to close most border crossings.
Islamabad accused Afghan forces of opening fire along the frontier near Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Afghan authorities announced additional large-scale strikes against Pakistani military positions.
The renewed fighting highlights the instability of a border long associated with militant activity, security disputes, and persistent mistrust.
Pakistan’s Air Force conducted strikes on Taliban targets in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/q3MGH1aZS8
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 26, 2026
Military Balance between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Personnel
Pakistan maintains about 660,000 active-duty personnel, including 560,000 in the army, 70,000 in the air force, and 30,000 in the navy.
Afghanistan fields an estimated 172,000 active members and has announced plans to expand to 200,000.
Armor and Artillery
Pakistan operates more than 6,000 armored fighting vehicles and over 4,600 artillery systems.
Afghan forces operate armored platforms, including Soviet-era main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers. Exact totals remain unclear, and officials have not confirmed the number of artillery systems across at least three categories.
Air Power
Pakistan’s air force operates 465 fighter aircraft and more than 260 helicopters used for multirole, attack, and transport missions.
Afghanistan does not operate a functional fighter fleet and lacks a fully developed air force. The country reportedly has at least six fixed-wing aircraft, some dating to the Soviet era, and 23 helicopters, although experts question how many remain operational.
Nuclear Capability
Pakistan possesses an estimated 170 nuclear warheads. Afghanistan has no nuclear weapons.
The confrontation marks one of the most serious escalations between the two neighbors since 2021 and raises concerns about wider instability across South Asia if the fighting continues.
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