Pakistan Claims Hundreds of Afghan Taliban Fighters Killed in Escalating Border Conflict

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan asserts that hundreds of Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed in recent cross-border military operations, marking a severe escalation in tensions between the two neighboring nations. The claims follow a series of tit-for-tat attacks that have seen both sides accusing the other of harboring militants and violating sovereign territory, plunging an already fraught relationship into what Pakistani officials have termed "open war."

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq Underway

Pakistan launched "Operation Ghazab lil-Haq" (Operation Righteous Fury) late Thursday, February 27, 2026, in response to alleged unprovoked cross-border attacks from Afghanistan. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar updated casualty figures on Saturday, February 28, stating that at least 331 Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, along with other terrorists, have been killed, and more than 500 wounded. Earlier reports on Friday, February 27, from Pakistan Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry indicated 274 Taliban fighters killed and over 400 injured.

Pakistani officials reported that military forces destroyed 104 Taliban posts, captured 22 others, and neutralized 163 tanks and armored vehicles during the operation. Air strikes were reportedly conducted at 37 locations across Afghanistan, including key targets in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika provinces. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared that the nation's "patience has run out" and an "open war" now exists, accusing the Afghan Taliban of "exporting terrorism" and acting as a "proxy for India."

Reciprocal Strikes and Conflicting Claims

The latest flare-up comes after Afghanistan reportedly initiated attacks on Pakistani border troops on Thursday night, which the Afghan Taliban government stated was in retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, but dismissed Pakistan's claims of heavy Afghan casualties as "false."

In a contradictory account, Afghan officials claim their forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured some during their retaliatory offensive, while admitting to 8 to 13 Taliban fighters killed. The Afghan Ministry of Defense also asserted that its forces conducted drone strikes on multiple Pakistani cities, including Islamabad, Nowshera, and Abbottabad, targeting military installations. However, Pakistani military officials denied significant damage or casualties from these alleged drone attacks, stating their air defense systems intercepted them. Afghan military and police also claimed to have shot down a Pakistani fighter jet near Jalalabad and captured its pilot, a claim Pakistan's Foreign Ministry promptly denied as "totally untrue."

Deep-Rooted Tensions and Cross-Border Militancy

The recent escalation is rooted in long-standing distrust and a disputed border, the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has historically refused to recognize as a permanent international boundary. A primary source of contention is Pakistan's accusation that the Afghan Taliban government provides safe haven and support to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an Islamist militant group responsible for a surge in attacks within Pakistan. Pakistan alleges that TTP leaders and fighters use Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks, a charge the Afghan Taliban consistently denies, asserting that the TTP issue is Pakistan's internal matter.

Since the Afghan Taliban's return to power in August 2021, attacks by the TTP in Pakistan have reportedly intensified, with a significant increase in violence in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A United Nations report highlighted that the Afghan Taliban views the TTP not as a terrorist group but as an ally, providing them with operational freedom, guesthouses, and even passes and weapons permits for senior figures. This dynamic has led to repeated border skirmishes and a cycle of retaliation, with notable flare-ups in October 2025 and the current crisis in February 2026.

International Calls for De-escalation

The rapidly deteriorating situation has prompted urgent calls for de-escalation from the international community. The European Union, Russia, China, and the United Nations Secretary-General have all expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and its potential regional implications, urging both countries to cease hostilities and resolve their differences through dialogue.

The United States, while supporting Pakistan's right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, has also called for restraint. Mediating efforts by countries like Qatar and Turkey in late 2025 resulted in a ceasefire, but subsequent negotiations failed to achieve a lasting peace agreement, highlighting the complexity of the conflict.

The current "open war" rhetoric underscores a perilous new phase in the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship, with significant human and geopolitical consequences for a region already grappling with instability. Both nations face immense domestic challenges, and continued military confrontation risks further destabilizing their borders and exacerbating humanitarian crises.