Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Taliban in Afghanistan”

Pakistan has bombed major cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, with Islamabad’s defence minister declaring the neighbours at “open war” following months of clashes.

AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar heard blasts and jets overhead as Pakistan launched airstrikes on the Afghan capital and the southern power base of the Taliban authorities.

Pakistan’s latest operation came after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops last night over earlier airstrikes by Islamabad.

Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.

Several rounds of negotiations followed an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but the efforts have failed to produce a lasting agreement.

Both militaries said they killed dozens of soldiers in the latest round of border violence, which followed multiple Pakistani strikes on Afghanistan and clashes along the frontier in recent months.

Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Taliban in Afghanistan

Pakistan has bombed major cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, with Islamabad’s defence minister declaring the neighbours at “open war” following months of clashes.

AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar heard blasts and jets overhead as Pakistan launched airstrikes on the Afghan capital and the southern power base of the Taliban authorities.

Pakistan’s latest operation came after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops last night over earlier airstrikes by Islamabad.

Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.

Several rounds of negotiations followed an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but the efforts have failed to produce a lasting agreement.

Both militaries said they killed dozens of soldiers in the latest round of border violence, which followed multiple Pakistani strikes on Afghanistan and clashes along the frontier in recent months.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has the capability to ‘crush any aggressive ambitions’
“Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia (province) and Kandahar,” Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X.

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif declared an “all-out confrontation” with the Taliban government.

“Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you,” he posted on the social media platform.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country’s armed forces can “have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions”.

In the Afghan capital AFP journalists heard jets and multiple loud blasts followed by gunfire over a period of several hours.

An AFP reporter in Afghanistan’s southern city of Kandahar, where Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based, said he heard jets overhead.

The Taliban government confirmed the Pakistani airstrikes, with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid saying there were no casualties.

Hours earlier, Mr Mujahid announced “large-scale offensive operations” at the border “in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military”.

The Afghan defence ministry reported eight of its soldiers had been killed in the land offensive.