ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy cross-border strikes overnight in a sharp escalation of tensions. Pakistan’s defense minister said Friday the two neighbors are now in a state of “open war.” The fighting marks one of the most serious flare-ups between the countries in years. Both sides reported high casualties. Independent officials could not verify the claims.
Afghanistan launched strikes late Thursday. Officials in Kabul said the attack was in response to deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas earlier this week. Pakistan responded within hours. Pakistani aircraft carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other provinces early Friday. Military officials said they targeted Afghan military installations.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said on social media that his country had “run out of patience.” He declared that it is now “open war between us.” Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the strikes on Pakistani targets aimed to send a clear message. He said Afghanistan would respond to what he called aggression from Pakistan.
Tensions have simmered for months along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Clashes in October killed dozens of soldiers, civilians, and suspected militants. A ceasefire later reduced the violence, but both sides continued to trade fire in recent weeks. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring militant groups. Islamabad says these groups, including the Pakistani Taliban or TTP, stage attacks inside Pakistan from Afghan soil. Kabul denies the charge.
Asif said Pakistan had hoped for stability after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021. He said the Taliban should have focused on improving life for Afghan citizens and ensuring regional peace. Instead, he accused Afghanistan of aligning closely with India. Pakistan often claims that India supports anti-Pakistan militants. New Delhi denies those allegations.
Both governments released sharply different casualty figures. Pakistani army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani air and ground operations killed at least 274 Afghan forces and allied fighters. He said more than 400 people were wounded. He also said 12 Pakistani soldiers died and 27 others suffered injuries. One soldier remains missing.
Mujahid rejected Pakistan’s numbers. He called them false. He said Afghan forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured several others. He said 13 Afghan soldiers died and 22 were wounded. He also reported injuries to civilians after a religious school in Paktika province was bombed.
Officials from both countries could not independently confirm the figures. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said anti-drone systems shot down several small drones over Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera. He blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the attempted attack and claimed it exposed links between militants and the Afghan Taliban.
Regional powers quickly urged restraint. Qatar stepped in to mediate again. Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi spoke with foreign ministers from both countries in an effort to calm tensions. Turkey also joined diplomatic efforts. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held calls with officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians and resolve disputes through dialogue.
Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin’s envoy for Afghanistan, said Moscow would consider mediation if asked. Iran also offered to help. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged both sides to pursue talks during the holy month of Ramadan.
The conflict has raised concerns about civilians and refugees near the border. Pakistani authorities said they moved dozens of Afghan refugees from the Torkham border area to safer locations. Pakistan began a major crackdown on undocumented migrants in October 2023. Since then, millions have crossed into Afghanistan. The U.N. refugee agency said 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan in 2025. Nearly 80,000 have returned so far this year.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Mujahid said Afghanistan still seeks a peaceful solution. He said Kabul remains open to dialogue. For now, however, airstrikes and strong words have pushed Pakistan and Afghanistan closer to a wider conflict. The coming days will test whether regional mediation can prevent further escalation in a region already burdened by decades of war.
