KABUL/ISLAMABAD — Tensions in South Asia have exploded into a full-scale conflict as Pakistan officially declared an "open war" against Afghanistan’s Taliban government[1]. The declaration came just hours after Pakistani warplanes launched heavy overnight airstrikes on the Afghan capital, Kabul, as well as military targets in Kandahar and Paktia[1][2].
The bombardment of Kabul began at approximately 1:50 AM local time on Friday, with multiple explosions rocking the city[1]. Afghan anti-aircraft guns were actively seen firing into the night sky in an attempt to intercept the jets[2]. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirmed the extensive strikes across the three provinces[1].
The Breaking Point
The dramatic escalation follows the complete collapse of a fragile ceasefire brokered late last year by Qatar and Turkey[3].
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Islamabad's "patience has run out," officially framing the military action as a necessary response to ongoing cross-border aggression[1][2]. Hours before the aerial bombardment, Pakistan's Ministry of Information accused Taliban forces of launching "unprovoked" attacks on multiple border posts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, claiming heavy casualties on the Afghan side during the initial retaliatory ground clashes[1].
Afghanistan's Response
The Taliban administration has vowed immediate and severe retaliation. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced that Afghan forces are already carrying out "large-scale offensive operations" against the Pakistani military along the disputed Durand Line[1].
With cross-border ground skirmishes intensifying and both nations adopting an aggressive military posture, regional analysts warn that the situation could rapidly destabilize the wider region, drawing an official end to years of uneasy diplomacy between Islamabad and Kabul.
