The long simmering tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan finally exploded this week as Islamabad declared what it called an open war and launched airstrikes on major Afghan cities including Kabul and Kandahar after intense border fighting. What had been a fragile and uneasy situation suddenly turned into a direct military confrontation, leaving civilians deeply anxious about what may come next.
Pakistan’s defence leadership said that patience had reached its limit and announced the beginning of a large scale military operation named Operation Ghazab Lil Haq. Officials claimed the strikes were aimed at militant hideouts inside Afghanistan. According to their version, more than 130 Afghan fighters were killed and several strategic locations were destroyed.
However the Taliban led administration in Afghanistan strongly rejected these claims and offered its own numbers. Afghan authorities said around 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action and that some military posts were captured. The reality on ground remains difficult to confirm as both sides are giving sharply different accounts.
Residents in Kabul reported hearing loud explosions and aircraft flying overhead early in the morning. Many families rushed indoors while some tried to move to safer neighborhoods. Details about civilian damage are still unclear but fear is spreading fast among ordinary people who are not involved in the conflict.
This escalation follows months of cross border tensions, particularly over militant groups operating near the frontier. Earlier air operations had already caused anger in Afghanistan, where officials described them as violations of sovereignty. Now with fresh strikes and strong statements from both governments, diplomatic efforts appear to be weakening.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed firm support for the military and warned that any aggressive move would be crushed. Meanwhile key border areas like Torkham have become highly tense, disrupting trade and travel. Humanitarian concerns are increasing day by day as refugees and local communities find themselves trapped in a situation that is growing more dangerous instead of calming down.
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