KUNAR / KABUL — Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan reached a violent breaking point late Thursday, February 26, 2026, as intense border skirmishes in the Kunar province left dozens dead and triggered a massive retaliatory military operation. According to reports from Tolo News, citing Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, Afghan Taliban fighters launched a large-scale assault on Pakistani military positions, resulting in the deaths of at least 55 Pakistani soldiers. The Afghan government has further claimed that they are currently in possession of the bodies of 23 Pakistani personnel and have successfully seized control of one regional headquarters and 19 border outposts.
The offensive appears to have been highly coordinated, with Afghanistan’s deputy spokesperson, Hamdullah Fitrat, stating that several Pakistani soldiers were taken alive during the encounter. In addition to the territorial gains, Afghan forces reportedly seized a significant cache of weaponry, including a tank and a harvester. This sudden escalation in the Kunar province marks one of the deadliest direct confrontations between the two neighbours in recent years, fundamentally destabilizing the already fragile security situation along the Durand Line.
In immediate response to the ground assault, the Pakistani government has launched a large-scale counter-offensive codenamed Operation “Ghazab-lil-Haq.” Pakistani media reports indicate that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has commenced a series of targeted air strikes across various Afghan cities, including the capital, Kabul, and the eastern Nangarhar province. These aerial bombardments are reportedly ongoing as Islamabad seeks to neutralize the threat and reclaim lost border positions. The Pakistani military has asserted that their retaliatory strikes have been highly effective, claiming to have killed 72 Afghan Taliban fighters and injured more than 120 others so far.
The Pakistani government further claims that it has destroyed 16 Taliban posts and successfully captured seven others during the opening phases of the operation. As both nations trade claims of high casualties and territorial victories, the international community remains on high alert for a broader regional conflict. With air strikes still being reported across Nangarhar and Kabul, the humanitarian situation for civilians in the crossfire is deteriorating rapidly. Neither side has indicated a willingness to engage in ceasefire discussions as the military operations continue to intensify along the volatile border.
