The fighting on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified. This morning, on 27 February 2026, Pakistan has carried out air strikes on many areas including the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, under its ‘Operation Gajab Lil Haq’. The Afghan Taliban, in response, have continued attacks on Pakistani military bases and claimed to have captured several Pakistani posts. These clashes between the two countries have been going on since 21 February 2026, but now it has become an open war. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said, ‘Our patience has ended, now there will be open war.’
Pakistan claims death of 133 Taliban officials
In the morning of 27 February 2026, Pakistan Air Force attacked Taliban military bases in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Pakistani Information Minister Atta Ullah Tarar posted on X that 133 Afghan Taliban officers have been killed, more than 200 are injured. He also said that 27 Afghan posts were destroyed, 9 were captured and two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters, more than 80 tanks, artillery guns and APCs were destroyed. Pakistan says that this operation is going on and huge damage is being caused to the Taliban.
Apart from the military base of Afghanistan, Pakistan today again attacked the camp of displaced persons in Afghanistan in the name of military base in Paktika with a drone, in which 11 people were injured.
Afghanistan started attacks on Pakistani targets
On the other hand, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that in response to the Pakistani attacks, they have started attacking Pakistani targets on the Helmand and Kandahar borders. Afghanistan claims that they have killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, destroyed or captured 13-19 posts and only 8-9 of their soldiers have been killed while 11 are injured. Afghanistan also claimed that they had shot down a Pakistani jet which had entered their airspace. Casualty figures from both sides differ, and independent verification has not yet been done.
According to the Defense Ministry of Afghanistan, after Afghanistan started attacking Pakistan today, 8 of its soldiers were killed and 13 were injured. Also, no Afghan civilian or soldier has died in the air strikes on military bases in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika.
Where did the attacks take place?
The clashes are mainly taking place along the Durand Line, which is the disputed border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The main sights are:
- Pakistan Side: Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Here Taliban started attacks on the night of 26 February, in response to which Pakistan opened artillery fire.
- Afghanistan Side: Nangarhar, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kandahar and Helmand provinces. Pakistan carried out the first air strikes here on 21-22 February, then reached Kabul on 27 February.
Overall, fighting is going on in at least 6 Afghan provinces and 3 sectors of Pakistan. Villages on both sides are being affected by cross-border shelling and air strikes.
How many soldiers are claimed to have been killed by both sides?
- Pakistan’s claims: 133 Afghan Taliban were killed and more than 200 were injured. Only 2 of his own soldiers were killed and 3 were injured. Pakistan says that many Taliban posts and weapons were destroyed.
- Afghanistan’s claims: 40-55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, of which 13 bodies were brought to Afghanistan. Eight of his own soldiers were killed and 11 were injured. The Taliban say that they captured the Pakistani base and seized weapons.
- Total Casualties: There are claims of more than 200 deaths from both sides, but the UN and independent sources say the figures are disputed. Civilian deaths are also being reported, such as 18 Afghan civilians killed in Pakistani attacks.
