Pakistan has launched a series of air strikes against the Afghan capital of Kabul and the southern city of Kandahar following a dramatic escalation in cross-border violence.
According to Al Jazeera, Pakistani warplanes conducted two bombing raids on Kabul starting at 1:50 am local time on Friday and also struck a military base in Kandahar province. The strikes have led Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to declare that the two nations are now in a state of “open war”.
The aerial bombardment follows a large-scale retaliatory offensive launched by Afghan Taliban forces on Thursday night. Reuters reported that Afghan troops targeted several Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed their forces killed dozens of soldiers and captured several others during these cross-border incursions.
Islamabad quickly dismissed the Taliban’s claims. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that their counter-strikes successfully targeted Taliban headquarters and ammunition depots resulting in the deaths of at least 133 Afghan fighters.
Military comparison
With tensions flaring, Reuters provided a stark analysis of how the two militaries stack up. Pakistan maintains a massive conventional force with over 600,000 active personnel, an advanced air force and nuclear capabilities. In contrast, the Afghan Taliban commands an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 fighters. While the Taliban inherited billions of dollars worth of captured U.S. military hardware including light armoured vehicles and small arms, they completely lack a functional air force or advanced anti-aircraft defence systems.
The conflict reignited earlier this week when Pakistan carried out air raids in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces targeting what it described as sanctuaries for the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Kabul condemned those strikes and asserted they hit residential homes and killed at least 18 civilians.
Relations between the neighbours have plummeted since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The BBC reported that a fragile ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October has now collapsed entirely. Islamabad frequently accuses Kabul of providing a safe haven for TTP militants who carry out terror attacks inside Pakistan – a charge the Taliban administration consistently denies.
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