Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in their sharpest clashes in years after both countries carried out cross‑border strikes, prompting international calls for de‑escalation and concerns about wider instability.
What happened
– Pakistan’s military said it launched air and ground strikes on multiple Afghan military installations, including in Kabul and border provinces. The military claimed its operations targeted 22 Afghan military sites.
– Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers said they had carried out retaliatory attacks inside Pakistan, saying their actions were in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas.
– Pakistan’s defense establishment and government officials described the situation as an “open war” between the neighbours. Islamabad reported at least 12 Pakistani soldiers killed since Thursday night and claimed it had killed 274 Taliban officials and militants in the exchanges.
Statements and reactions
– The United States said it supported Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks attributed to Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.
– The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, urged both sides to de‑escalate and engage in dialogue, and reiterated that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten other countries.
– UN Secretary‑General António Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for differences to be resolved through diplomacy, expressing deep concern about the impact on civilians.
– The International Committee of the Red Cross warned of the humanitarian consequences, urging restraint, protection of civilians and guaranteed access to health care.
– Russia called for an immediate halt to cross‑border attacks, offered to mediate if invited, and urged both parties to return to negotiations.
– Saudi Arabia and Qatar were reported to be working at high levels with both sides to try to reduce tensions. Qatar and Turkey had previously helped broker a temporary ceasefire in October.
Afghan Taliban response and offers
– Taliban government spokesmen said they still favoured a peaceful solution and called for dialogue, while also accusing Pakistan of continued reconnaissance flights over Afghan airspace.
– Taliban representatives said their forces engaged Pakistani targets in retaliation for strikes on Afghan border areas.
Regional dynamics and analysis
– Observers noted the fighting represented a serious escalation with no obvious quick path to de‑escalation. Michael Semple, of Queen’s University Belfast, said neither side appears able to win decisively, making it hard to foresee how the confrontation might end.
– Longstanding grievances — including Pakistan’s accusations that militants operating from Afghan soil carry out attacks inside Pakistan — underlie the renewed violence.
– Pakistan’s ties with regional powers, including a recent mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and US support for Pakistan Air Force F‑16 modernization, add geopolitical dimensions to the crisis.
Disinformation and fact checks
– Multiple false and manipulated posts circulated on social media. DW’s fact‑checking found at least two major misleading claims:
– A viral video and images purporting to show Afghan forces shooting down a Pakistani F‑16 were assessed as fake. The aircraft shown in the clip did not match authentic F‑16 features and bore a serial number not in Pakistan’s fleet; the footage appears manipulated and partly recycled from earlier material.
– A widely shared post claiming a drone strike had hit a nuclear energy site in Islamabad was false. An image attached to the claim was a stock photo uploaded years earlier and major credible outlets reported no such incident.
– DW and other fact‑checkers warned readers about disinformation from both sides amid the fog of conflict.
Casualties, damage and humanitarian concerns
– Both sides reported casualties, but independent verification remains limited amid restricted access and contested claims. The ICRC and UN voiced concern for civilians in border areas who have already faced decades of conflict, displacement and loss.
– Media and military releases included images and videos of strikes; independent verification of many such images is ongoing.
Diplomacy and next steps
– Regional and international actors called for immediate talks. Qatar and Saudi diplomatic contacts were reported as attempting to mediate, while Russia said it could help if invited.
– The situation remained volatile, with the possibility of further retaliation and the risk of a protracted confrontation if diplomatic channels do not hold.
Context
– Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have a long history, complicated by militant groups operating across the frontier and shifting alliances. Pakistan once supported factions of the Taliban; relations have since soured as Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
– Previous attempts at ceasefires and confidence‑building measures have provided temporary pauses but not lasting resolution.
Developments continue to unfold, with international calls aiming to prevent further escalation and to protect civilian populations caught between the two neighbours.