Pakistan Declares Open War on Afghanistan After Bombing Kabul
Kabul, 27 February 2026
Pakistan’s Defence Minister announced ‘open war’ with Afghanistan after Pakistani warplanes bombed Kabul at 01:50 local time on 27 February 2026, marking a dramatic escalation in cross-border violence. The strikes followed Afghanistan’s retaliatory attacks that killed 10 Pakistani soldiers and captured 13 outposts. Pakistan claims to have killed 133 Taliban fighters across multiple Afghan cities including Kandahar and Paktia.
Escalating Military Confrontation
The situation deteriorated rapidly following Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif’s declaration on 27 February that “patience has run out” and Pakistan would now be waging “open war” with Afghanistan [1]. The Pakistani military targeted multiple Afghan cities, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming Pakistani forces killed 133 Afghan Taliban fighters, captured nine Taliban positions, and destroyed 27 others in coordinated attacks on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia [1]. The bombing raids on Kabul commenced at 01:50 local time on 27 February (21:20 GMT on 26 February), followed by a second air raid later that day [1].
Afghan Retaliation and Counter-Strikes
Afghanistan’s military response proved swift and decisive, with Afghan forces launching attacks against Pakistani positions on 26 February that resulted in significant casualties [1]. According to an Afghan military source, the attacks killed 10 Pakistani soldiers and led to the capture of 13 Pakistani outposts [1]. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Afghanistan launched attacks against Pakistani military bases in Kandahar and Helmand provinces following the Pakistani strikes [1]. An Afghan government source verified that Pakistani warplanes struck a military base in Kandahar province, demonstrating the cross-border nature of the escalating conflict [1].
Diplomatic Breakdown and Historical Context
The current violence represents the collapse of diplomatic efforts that had previously maintained relative stability between the two nations sharing a 2,611-kilometre border [1]. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan had already deteriorated significantly after fighting in October 2025 that killed over 70 people [1]. Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan of allowing groups like the Pakistan Taliban to use Afghan territory for launching attacks against Pakistani targets [1]. The breakdown of negotiations and a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October 2025 has left both countries without effective diplomatic channels to resolve their disputes [5].
Regional Implications and Asylum Concerns
The escalating conflict carries significant implications for regional stability and asylum seekers currently residing in European countries, particularly the Netherlands. Pakistan’s Defence Minister highlighted that Pakistan has played host to approximately 5 million Afghan refugees over the past five decades, with millions of Afghans still earning their livelihoods in Pakistan [4]. However, Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without proper documentation, resulting in 2.9 million people returning to Afghanistan last year alone, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far in 2026 [4]. Former United States ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has proposed that “a better option is a diplomatic agreement between the [two] countries that neither would allow its territory to be used by individuals and groups to threaten the security of the other,” suggesting implementation should be monitored by a trusted third party such as Turkey [1]. The deteriorating security situation in both Pakistan and Afghanistan creates additional uncertainty for asylum seekers from these regions, as the prospect of safe return becomes increasingly remote amid declarations of “open war” between the neighbouring states.