Jump to content

2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war

Extended-protected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Afghanistan–Pakistan war
Part of the recent conflict in the Afghanistan–Pakistan border skirmishes and the spillover of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Afghanistan (orange) and Pakistan (green)
Date21 February 2026 – present (5 days)
Location
Afghanistan–Pakistan border
Belligerents
Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Casualties and losses
  • Afghan claim:
  • 40 soldiers killed[2]
  • Pakistani claim:
  • 12 soldiers killed, 27 injured[3]
  • Afghan claim:
  • 18 civilians killed
  • 8 soldiers killed, 11 injured
  • Pakistani claim:
  • 80 TTP militants killed[4]
  • 274 Afghan Taliban fighters killed, 400+ injured[5]
13 Afghan civilians killed in Pakistani airstrikes, 7 injured. (UNAMA)[6][7]

On 21 February 2026, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) conducted airstrikes over the provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost in Afghanistan with the stated aim of targeting seven alleged militant camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) across the three provinces in retaliation for recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu, which Pakistan blamed on the Taliban of Afghanistan.

However, Taliban officials in Afghanistan said the airstrikes targeted civilian targets and religious centers, and resulted in 18 civilian fatalities in Nangarhar province.[8][9][10][11] Pakistani officials denied targeting civilians in Afghanistan, while The Express Tribune, citing military sources, reported 80 militant fatalities.[4][12] UNAMA would confirm civilian casualties, with Afghanistan condeming the airstrikes and vowing calculated response to the aggression.[13][14]

On 26 February 2026, Afghanistan launched a retaliatory operation against Pakistan. In response, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq ("Righteous Fury") against the Taliban.[15][16] This operation was initiated following an escalation in border skirmishes and cross-border firing incidents along the Durand Line, involving the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani security forces.[17]

Background

Main articles: 2025 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict, 2026 Islamabad mosque bombing, and 2026 Bajaur attack

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 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants to launch attacks inside Pakistan.[18][19] A fragile ceasefire was agreed in October 2025 after the deadliest cross-border clashes in years, mediated by Qatar,[18][19][20] but subsequent talks failed to produce a lasting agreement and low-level incidents continued.[18][19] The operation took place days after the Saudi Arabian mediated release of three Pakistani soldiers captured during the October 2025 clashes.[21]

On 11 February 2026, Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan may take action against militants in Afghanistan before the start of Ramadan if the Taliban did not curb militant activity from its territory.[22] February saw multiple terror attacks in Pakistan, notably 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.[23] 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.[24][25][26]

Airstrikes and hostilities

Airstrikes

See also: 2026 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan

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, though no further details were provided. Local sources report that the airstrikes in Bihsud district of Nangarhar province struck a civilian home, trapping 23 people beneath the rubble.[27] In a late-night press release, Pakistani officials confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force 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. Pakistan's officials also added that the strikes were in retaliation to the recent terror attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu. 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.[4] However, Taliban officials in Afghanistan stated that airstrikes took place in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. They said an airstrike in Bihsud District of Nangarhar province resulted in the deaths of 18 civilians, including 11 children. Afghan Taliban officials also condemned the airstrikes and warned of calculated response at an appropriate time.[28]

Shayesteh Jan Ahadi, former head of the Paktia Provincial Council, state that Pakistani airstrikes in several districts were very widespread and powerful.[29] 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.[30] On 23 February, UNAMA confirmed that over thirteen civilians had been killed by the Pakistani airstrikes, with an additional seven injured.[31][32]

Continued hostilities

On 24 February, the hostilities resumed as both countries exchanged fire along their troubled borders. 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.[33]

On 26 February, the Taliban military spokesman Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi said the "retaliatory operation" had been launched at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) on Thursday. The group's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the offensive had killed "numerous" Pakistani soldiers and captured others. This was denied by a spokesman for Pakistan's prime minister, who also contested Mujahid's claim that 15 military posts had been captured.[34]

Pakistan claimed to have destroyed 27 Taliban border posts and to have captured nine as well as to have destroyed more than 80 pieces of equipment including tanks, artillery and APCs.[35]

Reactions

Domestic

International

State actors

Non-state actors

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pakistan airstrikes kill dozens on Afghan border". Syrian Arab News Agency. 22 February 2026.
  2. ^ Parul, Prakriti (26 February 2026). "Afghan Forces Capture 15 Pakistani Outposts, Kill 40 Soldiers, Taliban Claims; Islamabad Reports 22 Dead in Retaliatory Strikes". The Sunday Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Pakistan says it hit 22 locations across Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. 26 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Yousaf, Kamran (23 February 2026). "Air raids in Afghanistan destroy 7 terror camps". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 23 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Live Updates: Pakistani army says 274 Taliban fighters killed, 400 injured". Al Jazeera. 27 February 2026.
  6. ^ Sirat, Siyar (23 February 2026). "UNAMA says 13 'civilians' killed in Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan". Amu TV. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  7. ^ Mohammadi, Habib (22 February 2026). "Taliban say 17 civilians, including 11 children, killed in Pakistani airstrikes". Amu TV.
  8. ^ Mohammadi, Habib (22 February 2026). "Victims of Pakistani airstrike buried as others remain under rubble". Amu TV.
  9. ^ "Pakistan launches deadly strikes on Afghanistan". BBC News. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  10. ^ Saifi, Sophia (22 February 2026). "Pakistan launches airstrikes against Afghan-based 'militants' it blames for cross-border attacks". CNN. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Sources: 23 People Buried Under Rubble in Pakistan's Airstrikes on Nangarhar". Hasht-e Subh. 22 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Photos: The aftermath of Pakistan's air strikes in Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  13. ^ Azizi, Ahmad (22 February 2026). "Taliban defense ministry vows 'calculated response' to Pakistani airstrikes". Amu TV.
  14. ^ "Afghanistan promises 'appropriate response' after deadly Pakistani strikes". Al Jazeera. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Pakistan and Afghanistan announce duelling military operations amid border clashes". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Pakistan's defense minister says that there is now 'open war' with Afghanistan after latest strikes". AP News. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Pakistan launches 'Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq' amid border tensions with Afghanistan". UrduPoint. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  18. ^ a b c "Afghanistan promises 'appropriate response' after deadly Pakistani strikes". Al Jazeera. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  19. ^ a b c "Pakistan strikes militant hideouts on Afghan border after surge in attacks". The Guardian. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  20. ^ "Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to immediate ceasefire during a round of negotiations in Doha". Reuters. 19 October 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  21. ^ Ottilie Mitchell and Yama Bariz (22 February 2026). "Pakistan launches deadly strikes on Afghanistan". BBC News. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  22. ^ "May Act Against Militants In Afghanistan, Says Pakistan". Afghanistan International. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  23. ^ Hussain, Abid (24 February 2026). "Afghanistan bombing: What's Pakistan's strategy as India-Taliban ties grow?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Pak Defence Minister Warns of Strikes if Taliban Fails to Curb Militants". Afghanistan International. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Won't hesitate to launch strikes inside Afghanistan: Kh Asif". Dawn. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Armed forces strike 7 terrorist camps along Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to recent suicide bombings". Dawn. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Sources: 23 People Buried Under Rubble in Pakistan's Airstrikes on Nangarhar". Hasht-e Subh. 22 February 2026.
  28. ^ Mohammadi, Habib (22 February 2026). "Taliban say 17 civilians, including 11 children, killed in Pakistani airstrikes". Amu TV.
  29. ^ "رئیس پیشین شورای ولایتی پکتیا: حملات پاکستان بسیار گسترده و قوی بوده است" [Former Paktia Provincial Council Chairman: Pakistan's attacks have been widespread and strong]. Afghanistan International (in Persian). 22 February 2026.
  30. ^ a b Sirat, Siyar (23 February 2026). "UNAMA says 13 'civilians' killed in Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan". Amu TV.
  31. ^ Sirat, Siyar (23 February 2026). "UNAMA says 13 'civilians' killed in Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan". Amu TV. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  32. ^ a b "Bennett Expresses Concern over Pakistan's Strikes on Afghanistan, Urges Restraint". Hasht-e Subh. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  33. ^ a b "New Afghan, Pakistani border clashes follow deadly strikes". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  34. ^ "Pakistan says two soldiers killed after Afghan Taliban launches 'retaliatory' attacks". BBC News. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  35. ^ "Pakistan bombs defence targets in 'open war' with Afghanistan, killing 133". বার্তা ২৪ (Barta 24). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  36. ^ "Pakistan bombs Kabul, declares 'open war' with Afghanistan after months of border clashes". France 24. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  37. ^ "Official Spokesperson's response to media queries regarding Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghanistan". Ministry of External Affairs of India. 22 February 2026.
  38. ^ "World reacts to eruption of fighting between Pakistan, Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. 27 February 2026.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2026_Afghanistan–Pakistan_war&oldid=1340759341"