Pakistan Declares “Open War” on Afghanistan After Airstrikes

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated after Pakistan carried out airstrikes on major Afghan cities. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced on social media that an “open war” has begun with Afghanistan. According to reports from Al Jazeera, on Friday, Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar, and other Taliban-influenced cities. Clashes continue along the border, with both sides claiming significant human losses.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan has stated that it is ready to seek a solution through dialogue. Over the past few months, there have been repeated incursions and counter-incursions along the border, raising concerns of a regional military conflict.

Defense Minister Asif wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that although the withdrawal of NATO forces had raised hopes for peace in Afghanistan, the Taliban administration has allegedly provided shelter to terrorist groups. He accused the Taliban leadership of undermining regional peace and violating human rights.

“Our patience has run out. Now there is open war between us,” he wrote, also noting that Pakistan, as a neighboring country, is aware of the situation. Earlier, Pakistan’s Information Minister Atullah Tarar claimed that Afghanistan had carried out drone attacks in Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera.

According to TOLO News, these drones were shot down by defense systems and caused no human casualties. The rising tension between Kabul and Islamabad has raised concerns about increasing instability in South Asia.