Overview
- Pakistan’s air force carried out overnight strikes on military targets in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, which the Taliban acknowledged as explosions and aircraft activity were reported by AFP and Reuters.
- The escalation followed a Taliban-announced offensive along the disputed Durand Line, with Kabul claiming to have seized Pakistani posts and inflicted military casualties.
- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the confrontation as an “open war,” as Pakistani officials said they hit posts, headquarters and munitions depots while Taliban spokesmen threatened retaliation yet voiced willingness for dialogue.
- Casualty figures remain unverified and sharply conflicting, with Islamabad reporting over 100 Taliban fighters killed and Afghan officials alleging dozens of Pakistani soldiers dead and civilian injuries in Nangarhar.
- The UN and several governments urged de-escalation, with China, Iran, Turkey, Qatar and the UK signaling readiness to help, and UNAMA previously documenting at least 13 civilian deaths in earlier Pakistani strikes.