Pakistan Declares ‘Open War With Afghanistan After Border Strikes

Pakistan Declares ‘Open War’ With Afghanistan After Escalating Border Strikes

Defense Minister Says Patience Has ‘Run Out’

Pakistan’s defense minister has declared that relations with Afghanistan have escalated into “open war” following a series of cross-border strikes.

In a post on X, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Islamabad had hoped for regional stability after NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan but now believes the situation has deteriorated sharply.

“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he wrote.

There has been no immediate public response from Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government.

Taliban Accused of Harboring Militants

Asif accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a base for militants and alleged it had allowed foreign fighters to gather and “export terrorism.” He also claimed the country had effectively become aligned with India — a charge New Delhi has repeatedly denied.

Pakistan has long accused India of backing groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, claims India rejects.

Asif further criticized the Taliban government for restricting basic human rights, including women’s rights, though he did not provide specific evidence.

Cross-Border Strikes Intensify Conflict

The latest escalation began after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack Thursday, describing it as retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes carried out Sunday in Afghan border regions.

Early Friday, Pakistan responded with airstrikes in Kabul as well as in Kandahar and Paktia provinces, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Multiple explosions were reported in Kabul, though casualty details were not immediately available.

The violence has cast doubt on a fragile Qatar-mediated ceasefire between the two countries, which Asif did not reference in his statement.

Refugee Tensions Add to Strain

Asif also defended Pakistan’s record of hosting Afghan refugees over the past five decades, saying roughly 5 million Afghans had sought refuge in the country during that time.

However, Islamabad launched a crackdown in October 2023 targeting undocumented migrants, leading to the return of millions of Afghans across the border. According to the United Nations refugee agency, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan last year alone, with nearly 80,000 returning so far this year.

The renewed military confrontation now threatens to further destabilize an already tense border region, deepening uncertainty between the two neighbors.

SOURCE: AP