2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict

An armed conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan began in late February 2026 following Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces.^[18] Pakistan said the strikes targeted militant camps and hideouts linked to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K), and described them as retaliation for recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu.^[16][34] Taliban officials and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), however, said the attacks caused civilian casualties, although they reported different figures.^{[35][36][37][38][39]}

After the initial airstrikes on 21–22 February, fighting quickly expanded into a broader cross-border confrontation involving airstrikes, artillery fire, drone incidents, and clashes at multiple points along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. On 26 February, Taliban authorities announced what they described as a calculated response to the earlier Pakistani airstrikes, saying that Taliban forces had attacked Pakistani military positions and border outposts. Pakistan responded by declaring an "open war" against Afghanistan and launching Operation Ghazab Lil Haq,^[f] a large-scale campaign involving air and ground strikes against Taliban positions in several Afghan provinces, including Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika.^{[40][41][42][43]}

Both sides released sharply different casualty figures and military claims throughout the conflict, with each denying or disputing the other’s assertions regarding losses, damage, and responsibility for civilian harm.^[44] Pakistani officials said hundreds of Taliban fighters had been killed, dozens of border outposts destroyed or captured, and military infrastructure hit across Afghanistan.^[45] Taliban officials, meanwhile, said that Pakistani strikes had caused civilian casualties and damage to homes, shops, and public facilities,^[46] and that Taliban forces had inflicted significant losses on Pakistani troops and positions.^[47] Independent reporting and satellite imagery indicated that many of Pakistan’s strikes appeared to hit military-related sites.^{[48][49][50][51][52]}

The conflict also had wider humanitarian and political consequences. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported dozens of civilian deaths and injuries and urged both sides to protect civilians and comply with international law.^[23] Some Pakistani strikes also hit civilian infrastructure and at least over 20 healthcare facilities in Afghanistan.^[53] Thousands of people were displaced on both sides of the border.^[54] Reports from Afghanistan described pressure on civilians to join anti-Pakistan protests,^[55][56][57] forced conscription and efforts to compel former Afghan soldiers to assist Taliban forces against Pakistan.^[58][59][60] Taliban authorities also restricted domestic media coverage of Pakistani strikes, warned against the publication of images and details from targeted areas, and limited independent reporting on casualties and damage inside Afghanistan.^[61]

The conflict occurred against the backdrop of long-running tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban government of Afghanistan, centred on Pakistan's accusations that Afghan soil is used as a safe haven by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants to launch attacks inside Pakistan.^[39][62] While on 19 October 2025, a Qatar-mediated ceasefire was brokered after the deadliest cross-border clashes in years,^{[39][62][63][64]} its practical implementation was fragile, as the subsequent talks failed to produce a lasting agreement, resulting in continued low-level skirmishes.^[39][62][65] The operation took place days after the Saudi Arabian-mediated release of three Pakistani soldiers captured during the October 2025 clashes.^[36]

On 11 February 2026, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan may take action against militants in Afghanistan before the start of the Islamic month of Ramadan if the Taliban failed to deter militant activities from the territory under their control.^[66]

In February 2026, Pakistan experienced multiple terror attacks on its territory, notably a series of attacks throughout the province of Balochistan over the course of a week from 29 January to 5 February by the Balochistan Liberation Army, a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in the capital of Islamabad which killed 36 people, and an attack on a checkpoint in Bajaur which killed 11 soldiers and a child. In response to the latter, the Pakistani government issued a démarche to the Afghan ambassador on 19 February.^[67][68][69] A warning followed that Pakistan "would not hesitate" to launch air operations inside Afghanistan if the Taliban government did not take action against militant groups using its territory.^[70][71][72] Another suicide attack followed in Bannu on 21 February, after which it was reported that "Pakistan's patience appeared to have run out".^[67]

During the late hours of 21 February, local sources in Afghanistan reported airstrikes in parts of Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces. In Nangarhar, the strikes were reported in Bihsud and Khogyani districts, while in Paktika, they were reported in Barmal and Urgun districts. Local sources also reported strikes in parts of Khost province, although no further details were provided. Local sources report that the airstrikes in Nangarhar province's Bihsud district struck a civilian home, trapping 23 people beneath the rubble.^[18] Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that the military conducted "intelligence-based selective targeting" of seven terrorist camps and hideouts along the border region. Specific locations reported by Afghan sources included Girdi Kas village in Bihsud District, Nangarhar Province, and areas in Bermal and Urgun Districts of Paktika Province. The Taliban claimed that the targets included civilian homes and a religious seminary.^[73][74]

In a late-night press release, Pakistani officials confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan. Officials said the strikes were selective and intelligence-based, and targeted seven militant camps and hideouts linked to the Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan Province near the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Additionally, Pakistani officials stated that the strikes were conducted as retaliation for the recent terror attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu.^[75][16] A Pakistani newspaper, citing military sources, reported that the seven TTP hideouts in Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces were destroyed and that more than 80 militants were killed;^[16] however, Taliban officials in Afghanistan stated that airstrikes took place in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. They said an airstrike in Bihsud District killed 18 civilians, including 11 children. Afghan Taliban officials also condemned the airstrikes and warned of a calculated response at an appropriate time.^[22][76]

Shayesteh Jan Ahadi, former head of the Paktia Provincial Council, stated that Pakistani airstrikes in several districts were very widespread and powerful.^[77] The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that Pakistan carried out airstrikes between 11:45 p.m. on 21 February and 12:15 a.m. on 22 February. UNAMA also reported that airstrikes in Paktika province damaged or destroyed infrastructure. On 23 February, UNAMA confirmed that over thirteen civilians had been killed by the Pakistani airstrikes, with an additional seven injured.^[21][22][78]

Pakistan described the operation as a retributive response to a series of suicide bombings inside Pakistan, including the 6 February bombing of a Shia mosque in Islamabad that killed 31 worshippers (claimed by ISKP), and attacks in Bajaur and Bannu districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the early days of Ramadan. Pakistan also claimed that the strikes were "intelligence-based, selective operations" against seven camps and hideouts belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP, also referred to by Pakistani authorities as Fitna al-Khawarij), its affiliates, and the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP).^{[79][80][81][82]}This was the seventh time Pakistan has carried out airstrike in Afghanistan since the Afghan Taliban took over in August 2021.^[83][84]

The Taliban-led Afghan government condemned the strikes as a "blatant violation of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity" and a breach of international law, stating that they hit civilian homes, a religious seminary, and other civilian structures, killing at least 18 people (including women and children) and leaving others missing under rubble. In addition, one family in Girdi Kas lost 18 of 23 members, and additional casualties were reported in Paktika. Afghan officials vowed an "appropriate and measured response" at a suitable time.^[85][86]

On 24 February, the hostilities resumed as both countries exchanged fire along their borders while both sides blamed each other for provocations. Zabihullah Noorani, head of the Afghan information department in eastern Nangarhar, stated that Pakistani troops carried out the first shots in the Shahkot area near the border.^[87]

On 26 February, at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT), Taliban-led Afghanistan's officials announced the launch of what they described as a "retaliatory operation" along the border in the provinces of Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika.^[88] As per the Taliban officials, 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and several others were captured. Taliban-led Afghanistan's officials further added that one military headquarters and 19 border outposts had been captured, while 4 border outposts were destroyed during the operation.^[89] Zabihullah Mujahid named seven of the border outposts that Taliban officials claimed to have captured. According to reports, the outposts were located inside Afghanistan, and it remained unclear how border outposts belonging to Pakistani forces were located on Afghan soil.^[90] At midnight local time (19:30 GMT), the Taliban-led Afghan Ministry of Defense announced the end of its four-hour operation. Pakistani officials rejected Taliban claims and stated that military action against Taliban forces was continuing. They further added that the attack had been repulsed, that the Taliban had suffered heavy losses, and that two Pakistani soldiers had been killed and three others were injured during the four-hour engagement.^[91]

In response to the Taliban's operation, Pakistan launched operation Ghazab Lil Haq and carried out air and ground strikes against Afghan Taliban positions in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, and Nangarhar.^[92] Faisal Karim Kundi, governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stated that the Afghan Taliban started the war and Pakistan will be the one to end it,^[93] while Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's defense minister, announced the start of 'open war' between the two countries.^[94] Pakistani officials stated that around 133 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 were injured during the clashes and subsequent operation. They further added that the airstrikes destroyed two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters, and more than 80 tanks, artillery pieces, and APCs (armoured personnel carriers). Pakistani officials also said that 27 border posts held by Taliban forces were destroyed and nine were captured.^[95] Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, and several other locations, and stated that these airstrikes did not cause any casualties.^[96] The Taliban spokesperson also announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Taliban forces had responded to the airstrikes with attacks against Pakistani military positions in Kandahar and Helmand, two provinces in Afghanistan, although the post was later deleted.^[97][98]

In Kabul, residents reported that airstrikes struck an ammunition depot near Darulaman, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the capital.^[99][100] Residents also reported hearing the sound of many ambulance sirens following the airstrike on the ammunition depot.^[94] Satellite images reviewed by The New York Times confirmed an airstrike on an ammunition depot in Kabul.^[101] Additionally, satellite imagery released by Planet Labs revealed damage at two locations in Kabul, which are 400 meters apart. In Gardez, scorch marks and damage to four buildings at a military base belonging to Taliban forces were visible from satellite imagery. Furthermore, NASA gathered and published data indicating a significant heat signature at the military base, suggesting that a sizeable fire had erupted at the site overnight.^[48] In Kandahar, Pakistani officials released aerial footage of a large explosion at an ammunition depot near Kandahar International Airport. BBC News, using satellite imagery, confirmed the location of an ammunition depot in Kandahar. In Paktika, a video shared on social media showed smoke rising from a Taliban military base in the Urgun District. BBC News confirmed the location by matching roads and a distinctive foreground building with satellite imagery.^[49] Analysts at Maiar, an intelligence firm, stated that Pakistan's strikes on buildings and other infrastructure in Afghanistan appeared to be largely confined to military sites. They said that one of the buildings struck in Kabul appeared to be a military headquarters or command-and-control centre, and that vehicles parked nearby suggested the building had been occupied. In Kandahar, the analysts reported damage to at least two buildings within a large complex, which they assessed to be a headquarters of some kind.^[50]

PAF airstrikes in Kandahar province also struck the former home of Mullah Omar, the late founder of the Taliban, which was currently serving as a base for the Taliban's suicide unit. The property is located about one kilometer from the residence of the current Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. According to local Afghan sources, about 15 Taliban members were killed in the strike. Elsewhere in the province, parts of Spin Boldak District were also struck.^[102] Additionally, Taliban forces' facility in Pul-e-Charkhi was also struck by the PAF.^[103] Following Pakistan's airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar, Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the Taliban were ready to negotiate with Pakistan.^[94]

In the morning, the PAF carried out airstrikes in parts of Paktika and Laghman provinces, according to local Afghan sources. The airstrike in Laghman targeted the 201 Khalid Ibn Walid Corps, while the one in Paktika struck a house.^[104] However, according to some Afghan sources, the Taliban-led Afghan armed forces base in Paktika was the one that was struck by the PAF.^[105] Afghan local sources also report an airstrike on the Taliban-led Afghan border brigade in Paktika province.^[106] Later the same day, at around noon, the Taliban-led Afghan border brigade in Gardez was also struck by an airstrike carried out by the PAF.^[107] An additional airstrike in parts of Nangarhar was also reported by local Afghan sources.^[108] The Taliban-led Afghan armed forces base in Khost Province was also struck in the airstrikes that were carried out on 27 February.^[105]

On the same day, the Taliban-led Afghan Ministry of Defense announced that it had carried out airstrikes in Pakistan targeting military sites in Faizabad, Nowshera, Jamrud, and Abbottabad. The ministry did not provide details about the type of aircraft or equipment allegedly used in the attacks.^[109] Pakistani officials, however, stated that attempts to strike in Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera using small drones had been foiled using anti-drone systems. They denied that any strike had taken place in Faizabad or Jamrud,^[110] and said that these attacks were the work of the Pakistani Taliban rather than the Afghan Taliban.^[111] The drone in Swabi crashed near a girls' school, injuring a student.^[112] A quadcopter attack on a mosque in Bannu injured five worshippers. Pakistan subsequently imposed a countrywide ban on drone flights.^[26]

During the same day, Pakistan's army spokesperson stated that Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was continuing successfully against the Afghan Taliban. He said Pakistani forces had repulsed insurgents at 53 border locations, killing 274 militants, injuring more than 400. He added that 73 Afghan Taliban posts had been destroyed, 18 had been captured, and 115 tanks and armoured vehicles had also been destroyed. He also said Pakistani forces had targeted militant infrastructure at 22 locations in Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika. He added that 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed, 27 were wounded, and one is missing in action.^[113] Pakistani officials also released videos of their strikes in Afghanistan.^[114]

Later that day, Afghan Taliban officials announced that they had launched a new wave of attacks against Pakistani border guards in the border areas of Khost and Paktia provinces.^[115] The fighting later spread to the border areas of Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.^[116] The same day, Pakistani Taliban leader Noor Wali Mehsud ordered the group's fighters to intensify and systematically carry out attacks in support of the Afghan Taliban. He also instructed them to post video evidence of their attacks directly on social media without prior permission.^[1] Jamaat ul Ahrar, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, also ordered its fighters to intensify attacks in Pakistan in response to Pakistani airstrikes against the Afghan Taliban. It also said that its fighters would step up attacks in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab.^[11] Following these orders, militant attacks on police stations and outposts were reported in Peshawar, Bannu, Hangu, and Mattani, injuring a police officer and a civilian.^[27]

In the early hours, clashes between Pakistan border guards and Afghan Taliban were reported along the border areas of Torkham.^[117] Later on, an airstrike was carried out by the PAF on Jalalabad Airport, the capital of Nangarhar province. An AFP journalist reported hearing sounds of two loud explosions from the direction of Jalalabad airport.^[118] Pakistan's media outlet also reported an airstrike in Nangarhar province targeting several Taliban headquarters.^[119] On the same day, Afghan forces claimed a Pakistani fighter was shot down over Jalalabad using anti-aircraft guns, with the pilot captured alive.^[120] Pakistan rejected the Afghan Taliban's claim, labeling it as wartime propaganda.^[121] Afterwards, the detained individual was severely beaten by the Afghan Taliban and locals, while being paraded through the market area in Jalalabad, with Taliban officials terming the event as an important war operation. However, later on, it was revealed that the pilot that Afghan forces captured was an ordinary Afghan national who was a parachutist and had no connection to the Pakistani army. Further investigation also revealed that news of downing a fighter jet was false, and the detained individual was later released.^{[122][123][124]}

Elsewhere, the PAF carried out airstrikes in parts of Khost,^[125] Kandahar provinces,^[126] and Kabul.^[127][128] Taliban-led Afghan government deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said that 52 people had been killed and 66 others injured as a result of Pakistani attacks on the provinces of Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kandahar. The Taliban-led Afghan Ministry of Defense said that 110 Pakistani soldiers had been killed and 27 Pakistani border posts had been captured.^[129] The ministry also said that it had attacked Pakistani military sites in Miranshah and Spinwam, though Pakistani officials denied that any such attack had taken place.^[130] On the same day, an attack by Pakistani Taliban on Sra Khawra police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa injured one policeman and 6 civilians.^[28]

Separately, Pakistani officials said that 352 Afghan Taliban members had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the fighting began. They added that Pakistani forces had destroyed 130 Taliban border posts, captured 26 others, and destroyed 171 tanks and armoured personnel carriers belonging to Afghan Taliban forces. The officials also said that the PAF had targeted 41 locations in Afghanistan, including brigade and battalion headquarters in Nangarhar province and an army headquarters in Kandahar province.^[131] Later on the day, clashes resumed between Pakistan border guards and Afghan Taliban forces along the border areas of Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktia provinces. Taliban-led Afghan armed forces' 203rd Mansouri Corps in Paktia released a video depicting fresh forces being dispatched to areas near the border.^[132]

In the early hours, the PAF conducted airstrikes in Kabul with locals reporting hearing sounds of explosions and gunfire in several parts of Kabul, including Darulaman, and areas near the airport and Kārte Naw. According to residents, Pakistani fighter aircraft began patrolling and conducting intermittent strikes at about 20:30 local time on 28 February; explosions and gunfire were reported until about 06:00 the following morning. Residents also report hearing sound of explosions and gunfire around Shash Darak neighborhood. Shash Darak is home to several Afghan government and intelligence facilities, including Directorate 40 of the Taliban's intelligence service and offices of the Urban Development Ministry.^[133] Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense said that air-defense fire had been directed at Pakistani aircraft over Kabul and advised residents not to be alarmed.^[134] Later that day, the PAF carried out airstrikes on Bagram Airfield. Taliban officials claimed Pakistan's fighter jets attempted to bomb the base but were repelled by anti-aircraft fire and that no damage was sustained. However, satellite imagery published by The New York Times showed a hangar and two warehouses at the base had been destroyed. Pakistani officials later confirmed the strike on Bagram and said it also destroyed military supplies.^[52][135]

On the same day, armed clashes broke out between Taliban and Pakistan border guards along the Torkham border crossing.^[136] Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense said that clashes in border areas of Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, and Kandahar provinces killed 32 Pakistani soldiers and wounded dozens more. The ministry did not provide figures for casualties among Taliban forces.^[137] The ministry also said it had carried out airstrikes on Pakistan's military sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, without specifying the type of aircraft or aerial equipment used. Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected the claim and described it as false, stating that no evidence such as satellite imagery, flight data, ground footage, or eyewitness accounts had been provided to substantiate it.^[138] In Pakistan's Mohmand District, a drone crashed at Governor Model High School, causing no casualties or significant structural damage.^[139] Following the incident, Pakistani officials temporarily closed a number schools close to the border areas.^[140]

Later that day, Pakistani officials said that Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was ongoing and that, since the start of hostilities, 415 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 580 wounded. According to the officials, Pakistan's forces had destroyed 182 Taliban posts, captured 31 others, and disabled 185 tanks and armoured personnel carriers. The officials further add that the PAF conducted airstrikes at 46 locations inside Afghanistan. The officials also released footage that they said showed Pakistani troops crossing into Afghanistan from North Waziristan and capturing a border outpost belonging to Afghan Taliban.^[141][142] Elsewhere, Pakistan's security forces claimed to have taken control of 32 square kilometres (12 sq mi) of strategic Afghan territory south of the Zhob sector.^{[142][143][98]} This strategic territory, near the Kandahar Province, is known as the Ghudwana enclave.^[144]

At night, local resident in Herat province said that fighter jets were patrolling the skies of the province. In Islam Qala, residents reported hearing two explosions as aircraft flew over. At the same time, armed clashes resumed between Taliban and Pakistan border guards along the border area of Angoor Adda.^[145]

On 2 March, the PAF conducted airstrikes in Kabul which where confirmed by Taliban officials.^[146] According to Afghan local sources, the PAF also carried out airstrikes in parts of Panjshir, Kapisa, and Nangarhar provinces. In the provinces of Panjshir and Kapisa, local sources reported that, for the third consecutive night, they had heard aircraft, explosions, and ground-to-air gunfire. According to residents, scattered gunfire was also heard in the area known as Darband Mountain, which connects Panjshir, Kapisa, and Parwan.^[147] While in Nangarhar province, Pakistan's warplane bombed a Taliban-led Afghan armed forces' border brigade near the provincial capital Jalalabad. No detail was released about the possible casualty and Taliban officials did not comment on the matter.^[148]

On the same day, Pakistani officials stated that, since the start of hostilities, 435 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 630 others had been injured. They added that 188 tanks and armoured vehicles had been destroyed, 31 Afghan military posts had been captured, and 51 locations across Afghanistan had been targeted in air strikes.^[149] Pakistani security sources also told Reuters that Pakistan's forces had destroyed ammunition depots in Khost and Jalalabad, as well as a drone storage site in Jalalabad, among other targets.^[150] Pakistani officials stated that they were in no hurry to end Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, and that attacks inside Afghanistan would continue until Taliban officials provided credible guarantees that they were taking action to prevent the activities of the TTP in Afghanistan.^[151] In Landi Kotal, an artillery shell fired by Taliban forces fell near a residential compound, injuring 4 civilians.^[29]

Elsewhere, fighting resumed along the border areas of Afghanistan's Spin Boldak and Pakistan's Mohmand districts.^[152]

On 3 March, the PAF conducted airstrikes in parts of Panjshir, Kabul, Badakhshan, Herat, and Kapisa. Residents of Kabul reported that the city had been subjected to daily airstrikes over the past six days. In Panjshir, residents reported hearing a loud explosion, and said that the Bazarak area was shaken by a strong tremor. In Herat, residents stated that fighter jets were patrolling over the city's airport and that gunfire was heard from the airport. In Badakhshan, residents reported that an airstrike had taken place in Fayzabad.^[153] Taliban officials did not release any official details regarding these airstrikes.^[154] A PAF airstrike was also reported in Afghanistan's Nuristan province.^[155]

On the same day, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led Afghan government stated that, in the past 24 hours Taliban forces had attacked Pakistan's border outposts along the provinces of Kandahar, Nangarhar, Kunar, Nuristan, Khost, Paktika and Paktika. According to the spokesperson, since the start of the hostilities, Taliban forces had killed more than 150 Pakistan's troops, injured 200 others, and destroyed 40 border outposts belonging to Pakistan.^[156] The spokesperson also stated that 28 Taliban fighters had been killed in the clashes, while 42 others had been wounded.^[157] As per the spokesperson, 110 Afghan civilians had been killed, while 120 others had been wounded.^[19] The spokesperson added that Pakistani attacks in Afghanistan have damaged public facilities, mosques, and houses.^[46] The spokesperson also said that Afghanistan has approached Russia, China, the European Union, and United Kingdom to help end the war. The spokesperson warned that as long as Pakistan's attacks inside Afghanistan will continue, Taliban forces will keep on responding.^[158] A spokesperson for Taliban-led Afghan Ministry of Defense said that Taliban forces has the ability to block Pakistan's air operations inside Afghanistan.^[154]

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced that at least 42 civilians were killed and 104 others injured in Afghanistan in six days of fighting between the Taliban and Pakistan. The figure include casualties caused by indirect fire during cross-border fighting that struck residential areas in provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Nangarhar, Kunar and Khost, as well as airstrikes in Paktika and Nangarhar. UNAMA urged both countries to halt the clashes, to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, and to protect civilians.^[159][160]

The same day, Pakistani officials reported clashes with the Taliban at 53 border points along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border that left a number of Taliban and one Pakistani soldier dead.^[161][162] Pakistani officials added that since the start of hostilities, 464 Afghan Taliban personnel had been killed and more than 665 others had been injured. They added that 188 checkposts had been destroyed, 31 posts captured, 192 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery pieces destroyed, and 56 locations across Afghanistan targeted in air strikes.^[163] Pakistani officials also said that they had carried out intelligence based operation Bannu district against Pakistani Taliban, injuring multiple militants.^[164] In Lakki Marwat district, a Pakistani Taliban commander was killed by Pakistani forces,^[165] while in Tank district, a Pakistani police constable was shot dead by militants.^[166]

Elsewhere, armed clashes between Taliban and Pakistan's border guards resumed along the border areas of Khost,^[167] Kunar,^[168] and Zabul provinces. According to Afghan local sources, clashes in Zabul province caused casualties among Taliban forces and destroyed several border outposts belonging to Taliban forces.^[169] In Torkham Border Crossing area, Pakistan officials state that they foiled an infiltration bid and killed an Afghan Taliban commander, identified as Qahraman, along with several of his associates.^[170]

On 4 March, armed clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards continued in the border areas of Zabul, Kandahar, Khost, and Kunar provinces. An Afghan media outlet quoting local sources in several provinces report that many of the Pakistani strikes in recent days appeared to have targeted Taliban military facilities.^[51] They also reported that, over the previous week, the military corps of the Taliban-led Afghan armed forces in Nangarhar province had been struck by the PAF.^[171] On the same day, the PAF carried out multiple airstrikes in Kandahar targeting the Taliban-led Afghan armed forces' air brigade, the third battalion of the border police, and the 205 Al-Badr Corps. Taliban officials had not commented on the reports of airstrikes on military sites in Kandahar province.^[172]

The Norwegian Refugee Council reported that a Pakistani artillery attack on an earthquake-affected refugee camp in Khas Kunar District, Kunar province, resulted in three people being killed and seven others being injured, while forcing 650 families from the camp to flee to safety.^[173][174]

An Afghan media outlet reported that the Taliban were forcibly recruiting and deploying fighters, including civilians, from northern and northeastern Afghanistan to front lines along the Pakistan border, sometimes using financial incentives. It said that many were sent without their families’ consent, causing concern among residents. The outlet also reported that the Taliban had restricted access to information from war zones while conducting propaganda campaigns and organizing anti-Pakistan protests in northern provinces, which saw limited public participation.^[175] It further reported that the Taliban had recently detained two brothers from Parwan province following their expulsion from Pakistan, and told their family that they would be required to fight in the war against Pakistan. According to the report, the two were separated from their parents at the Torkham Border Crossing, and their family had been unable to prevent their forced recruitment. The outlet said the case reflected broader difficulties faced by deported Afghan refugees, including insecurity, lack of legal support, and the risk of forced conscription.^[176][60]

On the same day, Taliban-led Afghan Ministry of Defense announced that they have shot down two surveillance drones of Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces.^[177] Pakistani officials state that since the start of hostilities, 481 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed and more than 696 others injured. They also said that 226 border outpost of Taliban forces had been destroyed and 35 others captured by Pakistani security forces. In addition, they stated that 198 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery pieces had been destroyed, and that 56 locations across Afghanistan had been targeted in air strikes.^[178] Elsewhere, armed clashes once again resumed in Nangarhar province between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards.^[179]

On 5 March, armed clashes were reported between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards in parts of Khost, Paktia, Paktika, Kunar, Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces. The clashes were described as sporadic exchanges of fire along sections of the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. In the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, local sources reported that four Afghan civilians had been killed in strikes by Pakistani forces. Taliban officials have not confirmed the casualties in Spin Boldak district. In Kabul, residents report hearing sounds of scattered gunfire in parts of the city.^[180] In Pakistan's Miranshah, two civilians were killed and one was injured when a missile fired from an unidentified direction struck the Governor Cottage in Cantonment area.^[30] In Mohmand district, 3 civilians were injured when a mortar shell fired by Afghan forces landed on a house.^[31]

The same day, Taliban-led Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense said that over the past 24 hours, 41 Pakistani soldiers had been killed and 53 others had been wounded in the clashes with Taliban forces. The Ministry added that the Taliban forces had destroyed 12 military post and shot down three reconnaissance drones of Pakistan over the past day. The Ministry also said that they have carried out airstrike on a military base in Pakistan province of Balochistan.^[181] Pakistani officials stated that they targeted 41 border outpost belonging to Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani Taliban, resulting in heavy casualties and material losses. Pakistani officials also added that they had destroyed an ammunition depot and headquarters of 205 Corps brigade headquarters in Kandahar.^[182][183]

According to Afghan local sources, Taliban were moving tanks, military equipment, and weapons from Takhar and Badakhshan to Kabul amid the conflict with Pakistan. They further add that outposts and checkpoints in parts of northern Afghanistan had been evacuated following the redeployment of Taliban forces from these areas to border regions.^[184]

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) state that an estimated 115,000 people in Afghanistan and around 3,000 people in Pakistan have been displaced as result of border clashes.^[54] Afghans in several cities sent pictures and messages to an Afghan media outlet saying that they were threatened and forced by Taliban to participate in demonstration against Pakistan. Some Afghans in Bamyan province said local businessmen were warned that if they did not participate in the protests, "their shops would be sealed."^[185][186]

On 6 March, armed clashes resumed along the border between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards. Taliban officials said that they had launched an attack on Kharlachi border crossing in Dandpatan district of Paktia province, while sharing pictures of their attack.^[187] The Taliban-led Afghan Ministry of Defense said, over the previous 24 hours, Taliban forces had attacked 28 locations in the border areas of Kandahar, Nangarhar, Kunar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika provinces, killing 109 Pakistani soldiers and injuring 148 others. The ministry added that 10 military vehicles and 2 drones of Pakistani forces were also destroyed, while 3 Taliban soldiers were killed and 9 others were wounded during the same duration. The ministry also said that 7 civilians were killed and 13 other were injured as a result of Pakistani attacks in Afghanistan. The ministry added that, since the start of the conflict, Taliban forces had captured and later destroyed 64 Pakistan Army check posts and 7 bases, killing 307 Pakistani soldiers and injuring more than 350 others.^[47] Meanwhile, Pakistani officials stated that since the start of conflict, 527 Taliban forces were killed and 755 others were injured. Pakistani officials added that Pakistani attacks had targeted 62 locations across Afghanistan, while Pakistani forces had destroyed 237 Taliban outposts, captured 38 Taliban strongholds, and destroyed 205 Taliban tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces.^[188] In Pakistan's Mohmand District, several people were injured when mortar shells fired by Taliban forces landed in a village.^[189]

UNAMA reported that from 26 February to 5 March, 56 civilians were killed and 129 others were injured in Afghanistan as result of armed clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban. UNAMA also urged both sides to take urgent measures to protect civilians.^[23]

On the same day, some tribal elders and former military personnel in Afghanistan's border provinces said that the Taliban had asked them to support its conflict with Pakistan and to organize public protests against the country.^[58] According to them, as tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan continued, Taliban officials in Khost, Paktika, Paktia, and Nangarhar provinces reportedly held meetings with tribal elders and influential figures to encourage participation in protests against Pakistan. Some tribal elders described the outreach as unusual, saying they had not been invited to official meetings since the Taliban returned to power.^[58] Taliban officials in Kabul were also said to have asked former Afghan government officials and former members of the House of Representatives to publicly support the Taliban in its war with Pakistan. Former Afghan soldiers in Paktika and Khost provinces also state that the Taliban were seeking out and forcibly taking ex-soldiers, particularly those trained to operate heavy weapons such as mortars and artillery, to border areas to assist in the conflict.^[58][60] Afghan news outlet reported that Taliban forces people in Badakhshan province to raise anti-Pakistan slogans.^[57]

On 7 March, Pakistani officials stated that they had carried out air strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, destroying several Afghan Taliban positions. The officials added the airstrikes inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban forces, forcing them to abandon and flee from those positions.^[190] Meanwhile, Taliban officials said that Pakistani forces had bombed the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Maidan Wardak, and Kunar, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to homes and shops. Taliban officials did not comment on the casualties suffered by their forces.^[191] Taliban officials also urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take action to stop Pakistan's attacks. They cited recent strikes on several Afghan provinces, civilian casualties, displacement, and the expulsion and harassment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and called on the UNSC to help end the situation.^[192] Taliban officials in Torkham border crossing area said that Pakistan's attacks have destroyed at least 150 shops, resulting heavy financial losses for Afghan business owners.^[193] In Nangarhar province, residents state that the Taliban had forced them to participate in a protest against Pakistan in Jalalabad, in some cases by offering cash payments.^[56]

On 8 March, Pakistani officials stated that since the start of hostilities, 583 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed and more than 795 injured. They added that Pakistani forces had destroyed 242 check-posts, captured 38 others, destroyed 213 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery guns, and targeted 64 locations across Afghanistan in air strikes. Pakistani officials also said that they foiled an infiltration attempt along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border near the Chaman sector, killing one Taliban soldier while others fled the area.^[194] Elsewhere, Pakistani security forces carried out intelligence-based operation in five districts of the country, killing 13 Pakistani Taliban militants.^[195] In Pakistan's North Waziristan, two civilians were killed and three others were injured when a mortar shell fired by Taliban forces landed in a village.^[32] Meanwhile, Taliban officials said that they shot a reconnaissance drone belonging to Pakistani forces in Nangarhar province.^[196]

In Kunar province, residents state that the Taliban had forced them to participate in a protest march against Pakistan in Asadabad on 7 March. According to them, Taliban authorities instructed each tribal elder to bring at least five people to the protest.^[55] On the same day, China’s special representative for Afghanistan, Yu Xiaoyong, told Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi that China had contacted Pakistan and was working to reduce tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan.^[197]

On 9 March, Taliban officials said that they had destroyed a border outpost of Pakistani forces in the Goshta District of Nangarhar province.^[198] On the same day, Pakistani officials stated that their ground forces had destroyed an Afghan Taliban border outpost along the border,^[199] while the PAF destroyed an ammunition depot at Shaheen Base in Paktika province.^[200]

On the same day, Pakistan’s Information Minister said that Pakistan's military operations inside Afghanistan were aimed at militant hideouts and did not target civilian areas. He said the strikes were based on precise intelligence, dismissed casualty figures released by the Taliban as fabricated, and argued that United Nations reports of civilian casualties relied largely on information provided by the Taliban administration.^[201]

On 10 March, Pakistani officials stated that they had destroyed important posts and centers of Taliban forces in the Arandu and Kurram sectors, forcing them to abandon their positions.^[202] Taliban officials said that Pakistani forces had carried out strikes in parts of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, and Nuristan provinces, killing three civilians and injuring three others.^[203] In Pakistan's Mohmand district, Pakistani Taliban militants clashed with police, resulting in no casualties on either side.^[204]

On 11 March, Pakistani officials stated that they had targeted two Taliban border outposts along the border in Zhob sector, forcing Taliban fighters to abandon their positions and seizing several weapons, including Russian-made 73 mm HGL-9 heavy grenade launchers.^[205] In border areas adjacent to Shawal in North Waziristan, Pakistani officials stated that they had targeted and destroyed another Taliban border outpost. Pakistani officials also said that since the onset of hostilities, at least 641 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed and more than 855 injured. According to them, Pakistani forces had destroyed 243 check posts, captured and subsequently destroyed 42 more, destroyed 219 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns, and carried out air strikes on 65 locations across Afghanistan.^[45] Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, said that China resolutely supported Pakistan's fight against terrorism. He added that Chinese officials were working with Taliban and Pakistani officials to find a path toward reconciliation.^[206]

On the same day, an Afghan media outlet reported that Taliban were looking for a mediator to help end the conflict with Pakistan.^[207] Later that day, local sources report that Pakistani forces carried out artillery attacks in parts of Khost province. Taliban officials confirmed the attacks but said that the attacks injured 2 Afghan civilians and destroyed a number of houses.^[208]

On 12 March, Pakistani officials stated that their military forces targeted and destroyed several Taliban border outposts along the border. Pakistani officials also released images of their attacks which appeared to show multiple posts being hit by air strikes.^[209] However, Taliban officials said that Pakistani forces shelled parts of Khost and Kunar provinces, killing 4 civilians and injuring 3 others.^[210]

On 13 March, the PAF launched multiple airstrikes targeting Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar. The Taliban claimed that the Pakistani airstrikes killed and injured multiple civilians, while the Pakistani government denied the claims and stated that it had only struck "terrorist infrastructure," including the headquarters of the Afghan Army's 313 Corps.^[211][212] In Kabul, at least four people were killed and 14 injured in a strike on a residential area.^[53] Pakistan also said it targeted and destroyed oil storage sites at Kandahar Airport.^[213] The Taliban launched drones at Pakistan later in the day; Pakistani authorities said "rudimentary" drones had been intercepted and downed in Quetta, Kohat, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, and added that the debris had injured multiple civilians.^[214][215]

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari warned that the Taliban had crossed a "red line" by targeting civilians with drones.^[216] Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in a phone call that tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan could only be resolved with dialogue, and added that further use of force "would only complicate the situation" and intensify tensions.^[217]

Pakistan intercepted multiple drones heading over civilian sites at night. Drone debris injured two children in Quetta and a civilian each in Kohat and Rawalpindi.^[218]

Pakistan's information minister said that four civilians were killed and one child was injured in Bajaur by mortar fire by Taliban forces from across the border.^[33][219] Meanwhile, Pakistan launched fresh airstrikes on Kandahar targeting what it said were militant hideouts, while an Afghan spokesperson claimed that a drug rehabilitation centre had been damaged by the strikes instead.^[220][221]

Afghanistan's defence ministry claimed to have carried out an attack on an army camp in Pakistan's South Waziristan area in retaliation for the airstrikes, which allegedly destroyed most of the camp's command centre and other facilities, and inflicted heavy casualties.^[221]

On 16 March, Pakistan said that its forces launched multiple airstrikes against Taliban military installations in Kabul and Nangarhar, and claimed that it destroyed ammo storages and "technical support infrastructure."^[222]

Following the strikes, Afghanistan claimed that a Pakistani airstrike struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, reportedly killing over 200 people, mostly drug addicts undergoing treatment at the drug rehabilitation facility.^[223][224] Pakistan denied the claims and said that it had only targeted Taliban military installations.^[225] While the health ministry spokesperson maintained that there were "more than 200 martyrs and more than 200 injured," deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat claimed death toll was at least "double" that, with 250 wounded.^[226] Zabihullah Mujahid declared it a "crime against humanity."^[224]

On 18 March, Pakistan and Afghanistan both announced that they would observe a "temporary pause" in hostilities during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, on the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.^[227][3] Pakistan's information minister said the ceasefire would run from midnight on 19 March to midnight on 24 March.^[3]

During the conflict, the Taliban's intelligence agency, the General Directorate of Intelligence, ordered Afghan domestic media outlets not to cover areas targeted in recent Pakistani airstrikes. In some cases, intelligence personnel monitored media offices and newsroom operations to enforce the directive, and media outlets were warned against defying the order.^[228] Taliban intelligence officials also warned residents against publishing images or details of locations in Afghanistan targeted by Pakistani strikes.^[229]

Afghan local sources stated that the Taliban were restricting access to information about their own casualties, as well as those among civilians. They added that only Taliban members were allowed to take images of affected areas and victims, making independent verification of casualties and damage difficult.^[230] According to the sources, even Taliban controlled media outlets were not allowed to photograph the sites and areas targeted by Pakistan's airstrikes, and there were no accurate statistics on the casualties of civilians and Taliban fighters.^[231]

On 1 March, the Taliban suspended the broadcasts of Rah-e-Farda radio and television in Kabul, a channel affiliated with Mohammad Mohaqiq. The suspension was linked to remarks by Mohammad Mohaqiq, which reportedly criticized the Taliban's recent retaliatory attacks against Pakistan.^[232] On 5 March, the Taliban increased pressure on local media outlets, warning journalists not to report on attacks, particularly those targeting Taliban military sites. Under the new instructions, domestic media organizations were told not to report the locations or number of Pakistani airstrikes.^[61]

Sultan Ahmad Baheen, former Afghan ambassador to China, suggested that the Pakistani attacks coincided with the 2026 Iran war to minimize international attention on the airstrikes. He claimed that "Pakistan does not want a fully stable and independent Afghanistan" in the long term, but rather a political landscape in Kabul that remains dependent on Islamabad.^[233]

Sardar Rahimi, an Afghan researcher in international relations at Inalco University, viewed the timing of Pakistan's attacks amid the events in Iran as a strategic opportunity. He suggested that Pakistan, economically and militarily vulnerable in its war with the Taliban, needed US support and saw the attack on Bagram airfield as a projection to Donald Trump of Pakistan's alignment with US interests. He stated that Pakistan cannot continue the conflict without US support, and therefore, attacked Bagram airfield for the very political purpose.^[233]

Analysts warned that Afghanistan's drone attacks on Pakistan, targeting garrison cities among other important places signaled a troubling trend. In response, the government had to impose a nationwide drone flight ban and briefly restrict airspace over Islamabad. In Pakistan's security discourse, the focus shifted from the extent of damage caused by drones to concerns over their ability to penetrate deep into the country. This raised questions about potential vulnerabilities in Pakistan's defense preparedness. Abdul Basit, senior associate fellow at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), stressed that the concern was not the drones' sophistication, but their presence in Pakistan's capital. Taliban drones forced airspace closures and targeted deep within the country, escalating the threat both horizontally and vertically. Hammad Waleed, a research associate at Pakistan's Strategic Vision Institute, stated that while Pakistan's air defense could counter numbered drone projectiles, it'd struggle against drone swarms.^[234]

•  Afghanistan: Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence condemned the airstrikes, claiming that Pakistan had "hit a religious school and residential homes".^[87] Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Afghanistan was "facing an imposed war" from Pakistan.^[235]
•  Pakistan: Pakistan's Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif declared an "open war" between the two countries.^[43][236]

•  India: Randhir Jaiswal, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, expressed strong condemnation of the strikes and expressed support for Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.^[237]
•  Qatar: Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi discussed with Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar ways to reduce tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, thereby strengthening security and stability in the region.^[238]
•  Russia: The Russian government offered to mediate the situation and urged both nations to halt cross-border attacks.^[238]
•  Saudi Arabia: Prince Faisal bin Farhan and officials in the Pakistani government discussed ways to reduce regional tensions during a phone call.^[239]
•  United States: The White House stated that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan against the Taliban attacks.^[238] US President Donald Trump praised both Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir for fighting against Taliban forces.^[240]

In addition, Bangladesh,^[241] China,^[238] Egypt,^[242] Iran,^[238] Iraq,^[243] Jordan,^[244] Malaysia,^[245] and Uzbekistan^[246] also called for a ceasefire to end hostilities and promoted dialogue to resolve border tensions.

•  United Nations: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged both nations to cease hostilities and to take steps to prevent harm to civilians. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, expressed concern over airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktika, calling on the belligerent parties to exercise "maximum restraint". He stated deep concern for "a significant number of children and civilians" who were killed following the hostilities.^[78]
•  European Union: In a brief statement, the EU Council called on all actors for immediate de-escalation and a halt of hostilities in the area. It reiterated to the Taliban that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on them to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan.^[247]

• 2021 anti-Pakistani protests
• 2022 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan
• 2026 Iran war
• Deportation of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan in 2023
• Insurgency in Balochistan
• Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa