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Updated 27 February 2026 - Escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have led to the most significant military confrontation since last October's ceasefire.
Pakistan bombs Kabul and border provinces
Pakistan conducted airstrikes early Friday in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, and the provinces of Kandahar and Paktika. The strikes followed an overnight offensive by the Afghan Taliban against Pakistani military positions along the shared 2,600 km frontier.
Islamabad stated the Taliban had initiated unprovoked attacks on multiple locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, prompting an "immediate and effective" military response. The Pakistani military claimed its forces targeted 22 Taliban military sites, exercising "great care" to minimize civilian harm.
Casualties and claims
Pakistan reported 12 soldiers killed, 27 injured, and one missing. The military also claimed 274 Taliban fighters dead, 73 posts destroyed, and 18 captured, along with 115 tanks and artillery systems eliminated.
The Afghan Taliban acknowledged 13 of its fighters killed and 22 injured. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated 13 civilians were injured and an unspecified number killed, including a farmer's family in Jalalabad and students at a religious school in Paktika. Mujahid also claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers killed, 23 bodies recovered, and others captured.
Independent verification of these figures remains pending.
Taliban drone strikes inside Pakistan
The Afghan Taliban launched drone attacks on Friday morning, targeting three locations in Pakistan. A Pakistani military officer confirmed drones struck near the army's artillery school in Nowshera, a military academy in Abbottabad, and a primary school in Swabi. All drones were intercepted and destroyed.
Analysts noted the Taliban's use of commercially available drones with improvised explosives limits their range and precision. However, the attacks on Abbottabad and Swabi indicate an ability to penetrate deeper into Pakistani territory than previously observed.
Diplomatic calls for de-escalation
United Nations officials urged both nations to de-escalate immediately. Iran, which shares borders with both countries, offered to mediate, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasizing Ramadan as a time for restraint and Islamic solidarity.
"We urge both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint to prevent further civilian harm."
Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
The UK's Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, echoed these sentiments, calling for mediated dialogue and immediate steps to avoid further civilian casualties. Taliban spokesman Mujahid stated Afghanistan seeks a resolution through dialogue but would retaliate if attacked.
Roots of the conflict
Tensions have simmered for months, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan Taliban of harboring anti-Pakistan militants responsible for recent suicide attacks, including one at an Islamabad mosque. The Taliban government denies these allegations, asserting Afghanistan's territory is not used to threaten other nations.
Pakistan maintains its strikes target only militants, while the Taliban accuses Islamabad of killing civilians in unprovoked attacks. Earlier this week, Pakistan conducted overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan, which the Taliban claimed killed 18 people, including women and children.
Analysts warn of precarious situation
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Atlantic Council, told the BBC the latest Pakistani strikes mark a significant shift by targeting Taliban government facilities rather than militant hideouts. "It's now targeting the regime itself," he said.
Taliban military chief Qari Muhammad Fasihuddin vowed a "more decisive response" in future confrontations. Analysts caution that while the Taliban's guerrilla warfare experience may not match Pakistan's conventional military strength, its rhetoric signals a willingness to escalate.
