What we know so far about the escalating Afghanistan–Pakistan border clashes after airstrikes

In a statement shared by government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on X, Kabul said the operation was launched in response to recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory.

د نن شپې د انتقامي بریدونو د پایلو په اړه د ملي دفاع وزارت خبرپاڼه:
داچې څو ورځې وړاندې د پاکستاني پوځي حلقې لخوا په خورا سپین سترګۍ سره د افغانستان په خاوره تجازو وشو، زموږ حریم یې نقض کړ او دلته یې ښځې او ماشومان په شهادت ورسول، په ځواب کې یې نن شپه د ۱۴۴۷ قمري کال pic.twitter.com/5Cx1iVhI8Y

— عنایت الله خوارزمی (@EnayatKhowarazm) February 26, 2026

Afghan officials claimed that up to 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two headquarters and 19 check posts were captured, and several soldiers were taken prisoner. They also said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded during the clashes.

Pakistan has strongly rejected these figures. According to the Associated Press (AP), Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded, dismissing Afghan claims that posts were captured. He described Afghanistan’s attack as “unprovoked”.

Explosions and the sound of aircraft were later heard in Kabul early Friday, hours after Afghanistan said it had launched cross-border attacks, AP reported. There was no immediate confirmation of casualties in the Afghan capital.

How did it start?

The latest flare-up follows Pakistani airstrikes conducted last Sunday along the Afghan border.
Islamabad said the strikes targeted training camps of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan has long accused Kabul of allowing the TTP to operate from Afghan soil — a claim Afghanistan denies.

Afghan authorities said the strikes hit civilian areas, including homes and a madrassa. The Defence Ministry described them as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

Afghan officials also said 13 civilians, including women and children, were injured in an airstrike on a temporary camp for returnees in Torkham.

Who is saying what?

Afghanistan’s Position

Speaking to Al Arabiya, Zabihullah Mujahid said a military response to Pakistan’s airstrikes was “confidential” but insisted it would happen.

“Pakistan’s actions are unforgivable,” he said, calling on regional and Islamic countries to pressure Islamabad to change its approach.

He rejected claims that the TTP is based in Afghanistan, saying: “TTP does not have a presence in Afghanistan. These are Pakistan’s internal problems. Afghan soil is not used against anyone.”

Mujahid also alleged that Pakistan had provided “safe havens” to ISIS fighters in areas such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa an accusation Islamabad has not responded to publicly.

He further claimed that during strikes in Paktika province, a school was hit where 22 children were studying, and one child was injured.

Pakistan’s Position

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the earlier airstrikes were “precision strikes” targeting militant camps responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.

Officials maintain that the TTP has stepped up attacks over the past year and that Pakistan will take “all necessary measures” to protect its territorial integrity.

Islamabad denies capturing of soldiers by Afghan forces and says it is giving a “strong and effective response” to cross-border firing.

The Durand Line Dispute

The 2,611-kilometre border between the two countries, known as the Durand Line, has long been a source of tension. Afghanistan has historically refused to formally recognise it as an international border.
Clashes along the frontier have occurred repeatedly over the past year, despite attempts at mediation, including Qatari-backed ceasefire efforts.