Non Stop War Between Pakistan And Afghanistan

The situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has suddenly gotten much worse. In late February 2026, Pakistan said it is now in what it calls an “open war” with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s military carried out airstrikes on several major Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul and places like Kandahar and Paktia. This has caused fighting to grow significantly between the two neighbors. �

The Guardian

At the same time, the Afghan Taliban government said it launched drone strikes on Pakistani military targets. Pakistan responded by saying its air defense systems shot down those drones, and it claimed there were no casualties from the drone attacks. �

Reuters +1

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif publicly declared that Pakistan is now in “open war” with Afghanistan after the exchange of strikes. Both sides are blaming each other for the conflict and saying the other started it. �

AP News

Why are tensions so high?

This is not a sudden problem — tensions have been growing between the two countries for years, mostly because of disagreements over border security and armed groups:

1. Border tensions:

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a long and mostly unmarked border of about 2,640 kilometers known as the Durand Line. This border has been a point of conflict for decades. Pakistan says that armed militant groups, especially the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and other militants, use Afghan territory as safe zones to launch attacks into Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies that it deliberately allows these groups to operate. �

AAJ News

2. Militants and terrorism:

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of not doing enough to stop militants from hiding and organizing attacks against Pakistani soldiers and civilians. These militants have caused violence inside Pakistan, including bombings and shootings. Pakistan wants Kabul to take stronger action against these groups. �

AAJ News

3. Failed talks and broken ceasefires:

In October 2025, both countries fought serious border clashes. They agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire (a short break in fighting) to try to reduce tensions. But these negotiations did not solve the deeper issues, and fighting eventually resumed. �

Hindusthan Samachar Urdu

Without a lasting peace deal or clear agreement on how to stop cross-border militancy, the situation has been unstable for months.

What has happened in the recent clashes?

Pakistan carried out air and artillery strikes inside Afghanistan, hitting some military targets and urban areas. Pakistan claims it killed many militants from the Afghan side. Afghanistan claims Pakistan’s attacks caused civilian deaths and destruction. �

Sky News

Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan first, according to Islamabad, claiming retaliation for earlier Pakistani attacks on its border areas. �

Defense News

Both sides have claimed the other has suffered heavier losses — but the numbers are strongly conflicting and hard to verify independently. �

Sky News

How big is the conflict?

This recent escalation is one of the most serious clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan in years. It is larger than past border skirmishes because:

It involves bombing cities and not just border fights.

Both countries are using air strikes and drone attacks, showing a high level of military involvement.

Losses include both military and civilian casualties, along with damage to towns near the border. �

Sky News

What about civilians?

These clashes are affecting ordinary people too:

Many civilians have been killed or injured from shelling and explosions.

Some regions have seen displacements, where families were forced to leave their homes to find safety.

Refugee camps and neighborhoods have been hit in some provinces near the border. �

The Guardian

What is the world saying?

International reactions include:

Some countries and regional organizations are calling for talks and diplomacy to reduce tensions. Qatar, Turkey, and others have previously tried to mediate peace. �

AP News

Iran’s foreign minister even invited both sides to hold dialogue to find a peaceful solution. �

Reddit

But for now, the fighting continues with no clear end in sight.

What might happen next?

Experts fear that unless serious diplomatic talks happen soon, the conflict might continue or worsen. The issues are complicated because they involve border control, militant groups, and regional security. Both sides are strongly defending their positions, and neither appears ready to accept major compromises yet.

This new phase of violence makes peace harder and risks affecting not only Pakistan and Afghanistan but also regional stability in South Asia.