Pakistan’s defence minister has declared what he described as an “open war” with neighboring Afghanistan, signaling a sharp escalation in hostilities following cross-border attacks and retaliatory airstrikes by both sides.
In a statement posted Friday on X, Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had exhausted its patience after an Afghan cross-border assault triggered a new round of military action.
“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” Asif wrote, adding that Islamabad had hoped for stability in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces. Instead, he accused the ruling Taliban of harboring militants, exporting terrorism and undermining regional security.
Asif also alleged that Afghanistan had become “a colony of India,” repeating long-standing Pakistani claims that New Delhi backs militant groups hostile to Islamabad accusations India has consistently denied. Afghan authorities did not immediately respond to Asif’s remarks.
Airstrikes and retaliation
The latest flare-up has cast doubt on the durability of a Qatar-mediated ceasefire between the two neighbors, which Asif did not mention in his statement.
Tensions spiked after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan on Thursday, described by Kabul as retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas earlier in the week. In response, Pakistan carried out airstrikes early Friday in Kabul and in two other provinces.
At least three explosions were heard in Kabul, though officials provided no immediate details on casualties or specific targets. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani strikes also hit Kandahar and the southeastern province of Paktia.
Asif said Pakistan’s armed forces were delivering a “decisive response” after what he described as aggression against the country.
Refugees and regional strain
In his remarks, the defense minister also criticized the Taliban government’s human rights record, particularly restrictions on women, which he said contradict Islamic principles, though he did not provide evidence.
Asif highlighted Pakistan’s long history of hosting Afghan refugees, noting that the country has sheltered about five million Afghans over the past five decades, with millions still living and working in Pakistan.
However, relations have been further strained by Pakistan’s crackdown on undocumented migrants launched in October 2023. The campaign has led to the forced return of millions of Afghans, including people born and raised in Pakistan. Iran has conducted a similar crackdown.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, around 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan last year alone, with nearly 80,000 returns recorded so far this year.
As fighting intensifies and diplomatic channels appear increasingly fragile, analysts warn that the deteriorating security situation risks deepening instability across an already volatile region.
