Pakistan Declares Open War with Afghanistan
Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions have escalated sharply after Islamabad declared the situation had escalated into "open war," following a series of cross-border attacks and military action reported overnight. The statement was made by Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, amid reports of explosions and airstrikes in Afghanistan, including Kabul.
The Pakistani government said its military targeted what it called "defensive locations" in Kabul and several other areas, while Afghan authorities claimed retaliatory attacks on Pakistani border posts. Reuters reported that the clashes along the border erupted after the Afghan Taliban declared their attacks in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes; both sides claimed to have destroyed or captured enemy posts, but these claims could not be independently verified.
The Afghan Taliban, through spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, declared that they had launched offensive operations against Pakistani military positions and claimed dozens of Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attacks. Pakistani security sources, however, also issued counter-claims regarding Taliban casualties, emphasizing that the escalation was rapid and fraught with conflicting narratives from both sides.
This latest escalation comes amid worsening relations since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghan territory of harboring militant groups attacking Pakistan—a charge Kabul denies. The latest clashes also threaten the fragile ceasefire achieved after previous border conflicts. (alg)
Source: Newsmaker.id
