Pakistan says at 'open war' with Afghanistan after strikes

DW News · Feb 27, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Skip next section Russia urges immediate halt in border clashes February 27, 2026Russia urges immediate halt in border clashes Russia— which has some leverage in both nations — called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to immediately cease the ​cross-border ​attacks ‌and resolve their ‌differences ‌through diplomatic ​means, the country's state-owned RIA ​news ⁠agency reported ​on ​Friday. Moscow also said it was ready to mediate if invited by both sides. "Of course, ​the direct military clashes that ​have ‌taken place do not bode well. Therefore we hope that they will cease as soon as ‌possible... Like everyone else, we are ‌closely monitoring ​this situation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz ​Sharif would visit Russia soon, without providing a date. Russian Foreign Ministry ​spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also expressed concern amid the escalating tensions. "We call on our friends Afghanistan and Pakistan ​to abandon this ⁠dangerous confrontation and return to the negotiating table to resolve ⁠all ​differences through political and diplomatic means," she wrote on Telegram. https://p.dw.com/p/59UtfSkip next section VIDEO: Pakistan strikes Kabul as Afghan-Pakistan conflict reignitesFebruary 27, 2026VIDEO: Pakistan strikes Kabul as Afghan-Pakistan conflict reignitesPakistan has launched airstrikes against cities in Afghanistan, with the defense minister speaking of "open war" between the neighbors. The Pakistani military released images of strikes it carried out in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Sources say the operation also included ground assaults on Taliban targets. Both sides have conducted attacks and reported a high number of casualties. The latest flare‑up was sparked by what Pakistan described as an Afghan cross‑border attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border region. Tensions have long been high along the frontier, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks inside its territory.Pakistan strikes Kabul as Afghan-Pakistan conflict reignitesTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59V63Skip next section Pakistan says it downed Pakistani 'terrorist' dronesFebruary 27, 2026Pakistan says it downed Pakistani 'terrorist' dronesIslamabad said its anti-drone systems brought down small drones launched by Pakistani "terrorists" in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Seeming to reference Pakistani Taliban militants, Pakistan Information ‌Minister Attaullah Tarar said there had been "no damage to life" during the incident. Editor's note: An earlier version of this entry previously said that it was Afghanistan which downed the drones. This has now been corrected and we apologize for the mistake. https://p.dw.com/p/59VRXSkip next section MAP: Pakistan-Afghanistan clashesFebruary 27, 2026MAP: Pakistan-Afghanistan clasheshttps://p.dw.com/p/59V2QSkip next section Iran offers to 'facilitate' Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogueFebruary 27, 2026Iran offers to 'facilitate' Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogueIran on Friday offered to help "facilitate dialogue" to resolve the escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged the two sides to resolve their existing disputes. "The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance in facilitating dialogue and enhancing understanding and cooperation between the two countries," he said. https://p.dw.com/p/59UmmSkip next section WATCH: Pakistan and Afghan Taliban's complex relationshipFebruary 27, 2026WATCH: Pakistan and Afghan Taliban's complex relationshipPakistan and the Afghan Taliban share a complicated relationship. DW breaks down why ties between the two sides have soured over time: https://p.dw.com/p/59V1qSkip next section China expresses concern over Afghanistan-Pakistan clashesFebruary 27, 2026China expresses concern over Afghanistan-Pakistan clashesChina on Friday said it was "deeply concerned" over the escalation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan ⁠border. Beijing "calls on both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint... achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, and avoid further bloodshed," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a regular press conference. She added that the Foreign Ministry and China's embassies in Pakistan and Afghanistan were "working with relevant parties in both countries on this matter." https://p.dw.com/p/59UfBSkip next section Clashes resume near Torkham border crossing — report February 27, 2026Clashes resume near Torkham border crossing — report Fresh clashes resumed on Friday near the key Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, French news agency AFP reported, citing its journalists. Incoming shellfire was heard on the Afghan side by an AFP journalist around 9:30 a.m. local time (0500 GMT/UTC) after an interlude in fighting, the agency said. The Torkham crossing has remained open for Afghans returning in large numbers from Pakistan, despite the land border being largely shut since fighting between the neighbors erupted in October. Pakistani authorities said on Thursday that Afghan refugees who were waiting to return home from the Torkham border have been taken back to safer places following the latest clashes. Pakistan in recent months has ramped up deportations, targeting over 700,000 Afghans who fled after the Taliban's return to power. Afghan refugees at risk as deportations surge in PakistanTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59UeXSkip next section Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan fighting?February 27, 2026Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan fighting?Long-testy relations between the neighbors deteriorated sharply in recent months, hitting a low point with the deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides. Land border crossings have been largely shut since. Several rounds of talks followed an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but no lasting agreement has materialized in the conflict. Saudi Arabia this month managed to negotiate the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured in October. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that it says also act out of Afghanistan, which the Taliban deny. Chief among these is the TTP, often referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, but Pakistan would also point to Baloch separatist groups from the border areas. Pakistan's airstrikes followed a series of deadly suicide blasts including an attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan regional chapter that's primarily active in eastern Afghanistan. https://p.dw.com/p/59UfXSkip next section What do we know so far about the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict?February 27, 2026What do we know so far about the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict?Both Afghanistan and Pakistan acknowledged fighting in border areas on Thursday, albeit disagreeing markedly on exact developments on the ground and the extent of each other's losses and gains. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said that operations were taking place along the border with Pakistan in five provinces. The 2,611-kilometre (1,622-mile) long border between the two countries is known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has not formally recognized. The Taliban's deputy government spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, claimed that "up to 55" Pakistani soldiers have been killed, with the remains of 23 of them brought back to Afghanistan, and that an undisclosed number have been captured. The Taliban also claimed to have captured several Pakistani checkpoints in the border regions. What is Pakistan's version of events? Pakistan has disputed Kabul's claims on casualties, captures and territorial losses. The country's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that two Pakistani soldiers had been killed and three wounded. "A total of 133 Afghan Taliban are confirmed killed, more than 200 wounded. Many more casualties estimated in strikes in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar military targets." Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesman for Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan's "patience has reached its limit" and said there is now "open war" with the Afghan Taliban. The two sides had also reported cross-border fire on Tuesday, but without casualties. https://p.dw.com/p/59UdMSkip next section Welcome to our coverageFebruary 27, 2026Welcome to our coverageSouth Asia on Friday woke up to escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Islamabad's defense minister has declared an "open war" with the Afghan Taliban. On Thursday, the neighbors acknowledged fighting in border areas, reporting heavy ⁠losses and sharply differing death tolls that could not be immediately verified. Pakistan's air force hit military facilities overnight after an offensive by Afghan Taliban forces, officials said early Friday, with targets struck in Kabul and the Kandahar and Paktia provinces. The Taliban has portrayed its offensive operations in the border region as a response to Pakistan’s airstrikes inside Afghanistan on Sunday, which Kabul deems an unauthorized incursion. Stay with us as we bring you the latest reports and analysis on the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict as it unfolds. https://p.dw.com/p/59UcyShow more posts