Kamal Ghorui
Pakistan’s defence minister on Friday declared “open war” on the Afghan Taliban government, following renewed clashes along the shared border. “Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you,” Khawaja Asif posted on X.The escalation came after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani troops along the frontier, prompting Islamabad to launch air strikes on key Afghan cities including Kabul and Kandahar. “After airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and other provinces, once again wide-ranging retaliatory operations were launched against the positions of Pakistani soldiers, in the directions of Kandahar and Helmand as well,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X.Pakistan confirmed its attacks on Afghan targets, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posting, “Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia (province) and Kandahar.” Both militaries reported dozens of casualties in the ongoing border violence, which follows multiple clashes and air strikes in recent months.AFP journalists in Kabul heard jets and multiple loud explosions, followed by gunfire over more than two hours. In Kandahar, where Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based, an AFP reporter also reported hearing jets overhead. The Taliban government confirmed the air strikes but said there were no casualties.Earlier, Mujahid announced “large-scale offensive operations” at the border “in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military.” Afghan authorities reported eight soldiers killed during the land offensive, while civilians were wounded near the Torkham border crossing. “A mortar shell has hit the camp and unfortunately seven of our refugees have been wounded, and the condition of one woman is serious,” said Qureshi Badlun, Nangarhar province’s information chief.The border has been largely closed since fighting in October, which left more than 70 dead on both sides. Several ceasefire attempts, mediated by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, have failed, although Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militants who target Pakistan.Pakistan’s air strikes came days after a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 40, claimed by the Islamic State group’s Khorasan chapter, which also claimed a deadly attack in Kabul last month.
