ISLAMABAD/KABUL – In a dramatic escalation of long-standing border tensions, Pakistan has declared an “open war” against the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, deploying fighter jets to conduct airstrikes on multiple Afghan cities early on February 27, 2026. The strikes targeted Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces, according to statements from both sides, resulting in reported casualties and significant infrastructure damage. This military action follows retaliatory attacks by Afghan forces on Pakistani border positions, which Islamabad claims were unprovoked.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, announced the state of war, stating that “patience has run out” and framing the operation—dubbed “Ghazab lil Haq”—as a necessary response to Afghan aggression. Pakistani officials reported that the airstrikes destroyed two Taliban brigade headquarters in Kabul and eliminated approximately 130 Taliban fighters. Footage released by the Pakistan Air Force depicts nighttime operations involving precision strikes on alleged military facilities.
The Taliban government, through spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, condemned the attacks as violations of Afghan sovereignty and reported explosions, anti-aircraft fire, and civilian impacts in the targeted areas. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai also noted bombings in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. In a bold counterclaim, Afghan defense sources asserted that their forces shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets, including models such as the F-16, JF-17 Thunder, and J-10C, during overnight clashes along the Durand Line.
Videos circulating on social media platforms show wreckage purportedly from a downed American-made F-16, with Afghan officials describing it as a significant blow to Pakistan’s air capabilities. Pakistan has dismissed these claims as propaganda, though independent verification remains challenging amid the rapidly evolving situation.
The conflict’s roots trace back to recent border skirmishes, including Pakistani airstrikes last week that killed 18 in Afghanistan, prompting Taliban retaliation on February 26. Both nations have reported heavy losses: Afghanistan claims 55 Pakistani soldiers killed and multiple border posts captured, while Pakistan asserts dozens of Afghan troops were eliminated. The Durand Line, a contentious 2,600-kilometer border established in the 19th century, has long fueled disputes over territory and cross-border militancy.
Pakistan’s air force, equipped with a fleet of approximately 465 fighter jets—including U.S.-supplied F-16s, Chinese-Pakistani co-developed JF-17s, and J-10Cs—holds a clear advantage in aerial warfare. In contrast, Afghanistan’s air capabilities are minimal, with no operational fighter jets reported, relying instead on ground-based defenses and captured equipment from previous regimes. This asymmetry underscores the potential for rapid escalation, though Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal adds a layer of strategic deterrence.
Separately, amid these hostilities, Pakistan continues to promote its JF-17 Thunder Block III internationally. At the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, officials highlighted the jet’s combat performance in prior Indo-Pakistani clashes as a selling point for potential buyers in 13 countries. Additionally, Somalia is in negotiations to acquire 24 JF-17 Block III jets from Pakistan in a $900 million deal, marking a significant export effort to rebuild Somali air forces.
International observers, including those from Qatar, are urging restraint to prevent a broader regional crisis. Border areas remain on high alert, with both militaries mobilizing troops—Pakistan’s 660,000-strong force vastly outnumbering Afghanistan’s 170,000. As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely for signs of de-escalation or further intensification.
