The military actions between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to escalate.
Overview of the current situation:
- This morning, Pakistan carried out airstrikes on two targets in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
- According to Al Jazeera correspondent Nasser Shadid, the first strike occurred around 1:50 local time (21:20 GMT). Afghan forces responded with anti-aircraft fire.
- "We attacked the defensive positions of the Afghan Taliban in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar," said Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. In turn, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared an "open war" on the Taliban government.
- On Thursday, there was an exchange of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan along their border, with both sides reporting casualties.
- The conflict began after several days of rising tensions, although the deterioration of relations between the countries has been observed for several months.
- Representatives of the Taliban movement announced that a "large-scale offensive operation" was initiated on Thursday against Pakistani military targets along the Durand Line.
- The Taliban claim that their actions were a response to a series of airstrikes carried out by Pakistan earlier this week.
Prior to the airstrikes on Kabul, the Ministry of Information of Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of opening fire on several targets along the northwestern border.
"The Afghan Taliban made a mistake by opening unprovoked fire on several positions along the border with Pakistan in [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa], which received an immediate and effective response from Pakistani security forces," the ministry said in a statement on September 10.
"In the sectors of Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur, the Taliban are suffering heavy losses. Initial reports confirm significant losses on the Afghan side, with many posts and equipment destroyed," the ministry added.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja M. Asif issued a sharp statement declaring an "open war" against the Afghan Taliban government, posting it on platform X.
His statement came after a series of attacks on major Afghan cities, which were in response to Afghan forces' offensives against Pakistani troops.
Khawaja added: "Pakistan has made every effort to maintain normal relations through direct contacts and with the help of friendly countries. We have been actively engaging in diplomacy."
"Our patience has run out. An open war has now broken out between us."
In October, both sides agreed to a fragile ceasefire after a series of deadly clashes; however, subsequent hostilities still occurred.
The bombings of Kabul and Kandahar have become the latest in a series of clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite a previously reached ceasefire agreement.
Last week, Pakistan conducted several nighttime airstrikes on Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people, including women and children, according to the Taliban.
Islamabad confirmed that the strikes targeted seven alleged militant camps near the border, stating that they were in response to recent suicide attacks in Pakistan. While Kabul claims that the targets of the strikes were residential homes and religious schools, among the casualties were women and children.
The Afghan Taliban announced the initiation of a "large-scale" retaliatory operation, claiming that their offensive resulted in the deaths of "numerous Pakistani soldiers."
This was denied by a representative of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who also disputed the Taliban's claim of capturing 15 military posts.
On the same day, Pakistan confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed and three others wounded after being attacked without provocation along the border.
As in previous instances, both sides blame each other for starting the conflict, claiming significant losses on both sides.
On Friday, Pakistani authorities reported the beginning of "counter-offensives" on cities such as Kabul and Kandahar in response to "unprovoked attacks by Afghans."
The Afghan Taliban, in turn, claim to have initiated a "large-scale" operation in response to airstrikes that they say resulted in the deaths of 18 people. Islamabad insists that the targets of their operation are militant camps.
Taliban spokesman Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi reported that the "retaliation operation" was launched around 8:00 PM local time (15:30 GMT) on Thursday.
According to Zabihullah Mujahid, the main representative of the Taliban, their offensive resulted in the deaths of a "large number" of Pakistani soldiers, while others were captured. However, Pakistani authorities denied this statement.
The spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Musharraf Zaidi, stated that as a result of the strikes by Pakistani forces, 27 Taliban military posts were destroyed and nine others were captured.
Additionally, they also destroyed over 80 tanks, artillery pieces, and armored personnel carriers.
"Pakistan continues to respond promptly and effectively to aggression," he added in his message on X.
The Taliban Ministry of Defense reported the capture of 19 military posts and two bases, claiming that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the fighting.
It should be noted that confirming these figures is difficult. Both sides have claimed significant losses on both sides throughout the conflict.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif assured that the country's armed forces "are fully capable of preventing any aggressive intentions."
"There will be no compromises on matters of homeland defense, and a worthy response will be given to every act of aggression," he noted in a series of messages on the government's account on X.
Hamid Karzai expressed the opinion that the Pakistani air force bombed Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.
"Afghans will defend their homeland in full unity under any circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage," added the former President of Afghanistan.
"Pakistan cannot escape the violence and bombings that it has created itself. It should change its policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan," he noted.
