Afganistan launched large-scale military operations against Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line on February 26, 2026, according to a statement from Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Afghan government. The operations are in response to recent Pakistani attacks, Mujahid stated via a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Mujahid claimed that Afghan forces had seized control of 15 Pakistani military outposts, with ongoing operations targeting additional positions. He alleged that numerous Pakistani soldiers were killed and some captured during the offensive. The Afghan Defense Ministry confirmed that operations were continuing in Khost, Paktia, Nuristan, and other regions along the border.
Pakistan’s Information Ministry responded with a statement asserting that Pakistani security forces effectively retaliated against fire initiated by Afghanistan at multiple points along the border. The statement claimed that Afghan forces suffered casualties and that military equipment was destroyed. Pakistan affirmed its commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens, stating that all necessary measures would be taken.
The escalation follows Pakistani strikes targeting what its government described as “terrorist camps” within Afghanistan. Pakistan’s Information Ministry stated these strikes were in response to recent bombings within Pakistan. Following those attacks, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Pakistani ambassador to lodge a formal protest.
The Afghan Red Crescent reported that 18 people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Pakistani strikes. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, previously stated that approximately 70 militants had been killed in the border region during those operations.
The Durand Line, the 1,640-mile border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has long been a source of contention. Afghanistan does not recognize the Durand Line as an internationally recognized border, a point of ongoing dispute between the two nations.
Recent reports suggest a potential link between regional geopolitical dynamics and the escalating conflict. A Pakistani journalist, Fakhur Rahman, reported that the growing relationship between India and Israel is directly impacting the balance of power in the region, and that You’ll see serious considerations as to whether India is instigating Afghanistan against Pakistan.