"Open war": how the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan is developing

The head of the Pakistani Defense Ministry, Khawaja Asif, announced the actual beginning of an open confrontation with the Afghan authorities controlled by the Taliban movement, against the background of airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar and the exchange of accusations of supporting radical groups. Both sides claim significant losses and the transfer of control over a number of positions, which indicates an increasing escalation. How events unfolded, what caused the strikes and what consequences the escalation between Islamabad and Kabul could have — in the Izvestia article.

How the conflict developed

In an interview with Dawn newspaper, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described the current confrontation with Afghanistan as an "open war." According to him, after the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was expected that stability would be established in the country, and the Taliban movement would focus on internal tasks and ensuring security in the region.

However, according to the head of the defense department, the Afghan territory, on the contrary, has become a platform for the concentration of radical groups from different countries. According to his version, the "export of terrorism" began from there.

The situation began to worsen after the airstrikes carried out by the Pakistani Air Force in the eastern regions of Afghanistan on February 22. Islamabad said that the operation targeted targets of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Wilayat Khorasan groups (terrorist organizations banned in the Russian Federation), who allegedly used Afghan territory to prepare attacks on Pakistani security forces.

The Pakistani media clarified that fighter aircraft and drones were involved in the operation. It was reported that ammunition depots, training bases and logistics facilities in the border areas were hit.

The Afghan authorities, in turn, called the strikes a violation of the country's sovereignty. Zabiullah Mujahid, a representative of the Taliban movement, said that residential areas and settlements had come under fire, resulting in deaths among civilians, including women and children. He stressed that the incident would not remain unanswered. In Pakistan, these accusations were denied.

Armed clashes on the border

Armed clashes took place on the Pakistani-Afghan border on February 26. This was announced by the representative of the Taliban movement of the 201st army corps Khalid ibn Walid on the air of the Afghan TV channel TOLO News.

According to him, the Afghan government forces have launched retaliatory actions against Pakistani units in the eastern regions of the country. He also stated that three border posts had been taken under control during the fighting.

The shooting took place in the Nazyan district of Nangarhar province, located near the Durand line, where border units of the two states are stationed.

A new wave of airstrikes

The Pakistani Air Force has attacked military infrastructure in Afghanistan — in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia province. This was reported on February 27 by the Pakistani television channel PTV, citing sources in the country's law enforcement agencies.

According to the channel, two headquarters, command posts and ammunition depots were hit as a result of the attack. There was no official confirmation from the Afghan authorities at the time of publication.

On the same day, the Pakistani authorities denied reports of casualties among their troops and the seizure of border posts. A spokesman for Prime Minister Musharraf Zaidi clarified that as of late evening, no damage or loss of control over positions had been recorded.

On February 27, the Afghan TV channel TOLOnews broadcast information about powerful explosions in Kabul.

What is known about the dead and injured

During the armed confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, 133 representatives of the Taliban movement were killed and over 200 were injured. This was announced on the social network X (ex. Twitter) the press secretary of the Prime Minister of Pakistan for International Communications, Mosharraf Zaidi.

According to him, the Pakistani side continues to strike at military installations in Afghanistan. He noted that additional losses were recorded as a result of attacks on targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar. Zaidi said that 27 Taliban strongholds had been destroyed, and nine more had come under the control of Pakistani forces.

Also, according to him, two corps headquarters, three brigade command posts, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters and two sectoral control centers have been eliminated. In addition, more than 80 pieces of military equipment, including tanks, artillery and armored personnel carriers, were destroyed.

Completion of the military operation against Pakistan

On February 27, the Afghan Ministry of Defense announced the end of the military operation conducted against the Pakistani side.

On Friday night, the Afghan military announced that in response to the airstrikes from Pakistan, the country's armed forces launched large-scale offensive operations. According to Kabul, the strikes targeted positions and facilities of Pakistani units in areas adjacent to the Durand Line separating the territories of the two states.

According to the Afghan Ministry of Defense, the Pakistani side suffered 55 casualties during the operation. The ministry's statement claims that two military bases and 19 border posts were taken under control. Four more checkpoints, as stated in Kabul, the Pakistani units have left.

The Afghan side also reports the seizure of a significant amount of weapons and equipment, including an ammunition depot, one military transport vehicle, and dozens of light and heavy weapons. According to the ministry, one tank was destroyed. In addition, it is alleged that several Pakistani soldiers were captured, and the bodies of the dead were taken to the territory of Afghanistan.

At the same time, the Ministry of Defense acknowledged its own losses: eight soldiers were killed and 13 were injured. It is also reported that 13 civilians, including women and children, were injured as a result of rocket fire at a refugee camp in Nangarhar province.

The Afghan military department stated that the tasks set have been completed, and stressed that they are ready to respond in case of new incidents. There is no independent confirmation of the data provided.