Pakistan declares 'open war' on Afghan Taliban after border clashes; several killed on both sides

Islamabad: Pakistan’s defence minister declared “open war” on the Afghan Taliban on Friday following a fresh round of cross-border attacks.

“Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you,” Khawaja Asif posted on X. Hours later, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described Pakistani strikes on Afghan territory as a “befitting response” to Taliban attacks on Pakistani troops along the border.

The escalation comes after Afghan forces launched retaliatory strikes in response to Pakistani air raids on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia earlier this week. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces captured more than a dozen Pakistani posts and targeted positions in six border provinces.

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“After airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and other provinces, once again wide-ranging retaliatory operations were launched against the positions of Pakistani soldiers, in the directions of Kandahar and Helmand as well,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X. He added that operations targeted Pakistani military bases along six provinces of the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has never formally recognised.

Both countries reported differing casualty figures. Afghanistan claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while Pakistan put its military losses at two and said 36 Afghan fighters had been killed. Civilians have also been affected, with at least 13 wounded in a missile strike on a refugee camp near the Torkham border crossing.

The 2,611-kilometer Durand Line, which Afghanistan does not formally recognise, has long been a flashpoint. Cross-border tensions have persisted despite a Qatari-mediated ceasefire following deadly clashes in October 2025.

The United Nations urged both sides to protect civilians and resolve disputes through diplomacy. “Both countries must continue to seek to resolve any differences through dialogue,” said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Pakistan’s government warned it would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territory and citizens, signalling the potential for a prolonged conflict.