Afghanistan’s military says it has lauched a large military attack on Pakistani forces along their shared border. Taleban officials said the strikes started on 26 February 2026 in response to deadly air strikes by Pakistan earlier this week on Afghan territory.
The attacks took place along the long border known as the Durand Line, a border that Afghanistan has not officially recognized. Afghan military forces said they targeted multiple Pakistani army post and captured several outposts during this operations.
The Taleban government called this attack a retaliatory offensive, meaning it was a reply to Pakistan’s earlier military actions inside Afghanistan. Taliban spokesmen said the offensive involved heavy attacks on Pakistani border posts following recent air strikes in the Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.
The Pakistani air strikes happened earlier in the week when Pakistan said it was targeting militant camps in eastern Afghanistan linked to those groups that have carried out attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad said it had killed many militants, but Afghan officials said the strikes hit homes and civilian areas, causing deaths and injuries among families living near the border.
Explaining their attack, Afghan officials said they were acting to protect their land and keep their people safe. They said Pakistan’s repeated attacks on their land and air forced them to respond with strong actions to stop any further attacks.
Pakistan has not confirmed details of the Afghan attack yet. Officials in Islamabad said the recent cross-border fire was unprovoked and that their armed forces responded strongly to protect Pakistan’s territory. Pakistani security officials reported that their forces responded quickly and fought against Taliban positions in several areas, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Bajaur.
The recent attacks come after months of rising tensions between the two countries, with frequent clashes and exchanges of fire along the border in recent weeks. The situation has been tense since October, when clashes killed many soldiers and civilians on both sides, causing some border crossings to close and more distrust between the countries.
Islamabad has long said that Afghanistan does not stop militant groups from using its land to attack Pakistan. But Kabul has repeatedly rejected these claims, saying it does not allow foreign fighters to use its land to harm neighboring countries.
After the latest attack, officials on both sides asked people to stay calm, but firing along the border is still happening as both governments pay attention to the situation. Reports of damage, soldiers moving around, and army posts being taken over by each side have made people living near the border worried and nervous.
Border towns and villages on both sides have seen many families taking shelter or moving away from dangerous areas to stay safe. Humanitarian groups have expressed serious concern for the safety of civilians, especially women and children, who are often caught in the middle of the fighting.
This sudden rise in fighting shows the long-standing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This situation highlights the risks faced by people living near the border and the challenges both countries face in keeping the area calm and secure.
