Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban said its fighters captured Pakistani military posts and killed at least 55 soldiers in retaliatory operations, while seizing weapons and equipment. Islamabad has strongly denied the claims and reported heavy Taliban casualties instead.
BY PC Bureau
February 27, 2026: A sudden wave of airstrikes, artillery fire and ground assaults along the contested frontier between Pakistan and Afghanistan has triggered one of the most dangerous military escalations between the neighbours in years, with the Afghan Taliban claiming dozens of Pakistani soldiers were killed and Islamabad issuing sharply conflicting accounts of the fighting.
At least 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in cross-border fighting, according to Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban authorities, after Pakistan launched airstrikes in multiple Afghan cities early Friday. Explosions and aircraft were heard over Kabul just hours after Taliban forces said they had overrun military posts along the disputed Durand Line.
Pakistan rejected those claims, saying its forces had inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan fighters instead, highlighting the deepening information war accompanying the military confrontation.
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Taliban accuses Pakistan of airstrikes in Afghan cities
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, calling the attacks an act of aggression.
“The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties,” Mujahid wrote on X.
The strikes marked a dramatic widening of hostilities beyond remote border outposts, raising fears of a broader military confrontation between the two countries.
Afghan defence ministry claims capture of bases, heavy Pakistani losses
In a detailed statement, Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defense said its forces launched retaliatory operations at 8 pm Thursday, after what it described as a Pakistani cross-border attack that killed Afghan civilians, including women and children.
“A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here,” the ministry said.
Afghan forces said they carried out coordinated counterattacks across eastern and southeastern sectors near Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces.
Ceasefire collapses as Pakistan and Taliban trade strikes, defense minister declares war
Airstrikes hit Kabul and border provinces as both sides report heavy casualties and captured posts; UN chief urges protection of civilians am…https://t.co/Wtz61dwF5s pic.twitter.com/8wLV9xirBa
— Ynet Global (@ynetnews) February 27, 2026
According to the ministry, Taliban fighters captured two Pakistani military bases and 19 border posts during a four-hour battle. It claimed Pakistani troops abandoned four additional positions while retreating.
“In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed,” the ministry said.
It added that Afghan forces captured several Pakistani soldiers alive, seized weapons and ammunition, destroyed one tank and captured a military transport vehicle. Some bodies of Pakistani soldiers were allegedly transferred back into Afghan territory.
Ceasefire collapses as Pakistan and Taliban trade strikes, defense minister declares war
Airstrikes hit Kabul and border provinces as both sides report heavy casualties and captured posts; UN chief urges protection of civilians am…https://t.co/Wtz61dwF5s pic.twitter.com/8wLV9xirBa
— Ynet Global (@ynetnews) February 27, 2026
Afghan officials acknowledged their own losses, saying eight Taliban fighters were killed and 11 injured. They also accused Pakistan of launching missile strikes on a refugee camp in Nangarhar, injuring 13 civilians, including women and children.
These claims could not be independently verified.
Pakistan rejects Afghan claims, reports Taliban casualties instead
Pakistan strongly disputed Afghanistan’s version of events. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said only two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded, while 36 Taliban fighters were reported dead.
Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied Taliban claims that Pakistani soldiers had been captured.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused Taliban forces of initiating the confrontation.
“The Afghan Taliban regime miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations across the Pakistan–Afghanistan border in KP,” the ministry said, referring to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
It added that Pakistan’s military was delivering an “immediate and effective response” in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors, destroying Taliban posts and equipment.
President Asif Ali Zardari also warned that Pakistan would respond decisively.
“Pakistan will not compromise on peace and territorial integrity. Our armed forces’ response is comprehensive and decisive. Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response,” he said.
Fighting spreads to Torkham crossing, civilians flee
Clashes also erupted near Torkham, one of the most critical border crossings between the two countries.
Afghan authorities evacuated refugee camps in the area after several civilians were wounded. On the Pakistani side, residents fled to safer areas amid fears of further shelling.
Pakistani police said mortars fired from Afghan territory landed in nearby villages, though no civilian casualties were reported.
The fighting has heightened fears among Afghan refugees, hundreds of thousands of whom have already been expelled from Pakistan since Islamabad launched a mass deportation campaign in October 2023.
A disputed border with a long history of conflict
At the heart of the crisis lies the Durand Line, a 2,611-kilometre border drawn during British colonial rule that Afghanistan has never formally recognised.
The frontier has long been a flashpoint, with frequent clashes involving Taliban fighters, Pakistani troops and militant groups operating along both sides.
Tensions have remained elevated for months. Deadly clashes in October killed soldiers, militants and civilians, prompting a temporary ceasefire mediated by Qatar. But sporadic violence continued, and the latest escalation suggests that fragile arrangements may have collapsed entirely.
With both sides issuing sharply contradictory casualty figures and mobilising military assets, the risk of further escalation remains high, raising fears of a prolonged and destabilising conflict along one of South Asia’s most volatile borders.
