In a large and potentially deadly round of hostilities, the Taliban-backed Afghan Ministry of Defense maintains that its air force launched retaliatory strikes on several Pakistani military installations on today. Most importantly, the Taliban said it attacked a military base near the Pakistani capital, Islamabad specifically, the Faizabad area. The bombings follow a string of days of tit-for-tat aerial bombardments and border skirmishes, including a declaration of a “state of open war” from the two neighbors.
From Skirmishes to Air Strikes: A Surge in Conflict
The current crisis was sparked by Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia late Thursday night, which Islamabad characterized as "intelligence-based operations" targeted at the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). To respond quickly, the Afghan Taliban unleashed what they called “Operation Retaliation,” alleging that they had achieved targets deep into Pakistani territory.
Claims taken from the Taliban Defense Ministry:
- Islamabad (Faizabad): Afghan Forces claim they also have attacked a military base in the vicinity of the capital.
- Nowshera and Jamrud: Other attacks have reportedly been conducted on an army camp and base in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
- Abbottabad: Further, the Taliban also claimed a successful operation against this garrison city’s military complex.
Although the Taliban hailed these “successful” missions, the government of Pakistan, for its part, has mostly turned away from those claims, dismissing them as “fantasy” and propaganda. Pakistani officials say their own operation, Operation Ghazab lil Haqq (Wrath for the Truth), has inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban fighters on the border.
The "Open War" Declaration
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. “Patience has run out,” the defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said on X (formerly Twitter), adding that an “all-out confrontation” is now underway. At its heart is Pakistan’s claim that Afghanistan is a haven for TTP militants that carry out terror attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies these accusations, maintaining the security problems in Pakistan are domestic in nature.
International Response and Intergovernmental Action
The sudden plunge into interstate war has alarmed the world:
- China: "Deep concern" expressed, and said it has likely been mediating through some of its own channels to calm the situation.
- Russia & Iran: The two countries have proposed to help start dialogue to avoid a broader regional war.
- India: Have condemned Pakistani air strikes officially on Afghan soil, adding to diplomatic complications in the region.
