Pakistan Declares 'Open War' with Afghanistan Amid Rising Tensions
Escalating Conflict Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Islamabad, Feb 27: On early Friday, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, the Defence Minister of Pakistan, announced that the nation has exhausted its "patience" and is now in an "open war" with Afghanistan. This declaration follows a series of strikes initiated by both countries after Pakistan reported an Afghan cross-border attack.
Asif expressed on a microblogging site that Pakistan had anticipated peace in Afghanistan post-NATO withdrawal, hoping the Taliban would prioritize the welfare of its citizens and regional stability.
"Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us," he declared.
There has been no official response from the Afghan government regarding Asif's statements.
His comments came shortly after Pakistan executed airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, as reported by Pakistani officials and Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.
Pakistan claims these strikes were retaliatory actions against Afghan cross-border assaults.
This escalation follows a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkiye just months prior.
Both nations have reported conflicting casualty figures, asserting significant losses on each side, though these claims remain unverified.
Afghanistan's Defence Ministry reported that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, with some bodies allegedly taken into Afghanistan, and several others captured.
In contrast, it stated that eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 injured, claiming to have destroyed 19 Pakistani military posts and two bases, with the fighting concluding around midnight after four hours.
Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, reported two Pakistani soldiers dead and three injured.
Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, refuted claims of captured soldiers, stating that at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and over 200 wounded, with additional losses from strikes in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar.
In Islamabad, two senior security officials noted that Afghan forces at certain border posts had raised white flags, typically signaling a request to cease fire. They indicated that Pakistani forces were continuing a robust retaliatory response to what they termed "unprovoked aggression" from the Afghan Taliban, destroying several key Taliban positions along the border.
Asif also criticized the Taliban government for denying basic human rights to Afghans, particularly women's rights, which he claimed are guaranteed under Islam, although he did not provide specific details or evidence.
He stated that Pakistan has endeavored to maintain stability through direct actions and cooperation with friendly nations.
"Today, when attempts were made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God, our armed forces are giving a decisive response," he asserted.
Following the outbreak of clashes, Pakistani authorities reported that numerous Afghan refugees waiting to return home at the Torkham border have been relocated to safer areas.
In October 2023, Pakistan initiated a comprehensive crackdown to expel undocumented migrants, urging those present to leave voluntarily to avoid arrest and forced deportation, while also forcibly expelling others. Iran similarly began a crackdown on migrants around the same time.
Since then, millions have crossed into Afghanistan, including individuals born in Pakistan who had established lives and businesses there. According to the U.N. refugee agency, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan last year, with nearly 80,000 having returned this year alone.
Inputs from agencies