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By Reuters and The Associated Press
Published On 26 Feb 2026
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Afghanistan has launched attacks againt Pakistani military positions along the border in response to Pakistani air strikes last week, Taliban authorities said.
The media office of Afghanistan’s military corps in the East said in a statement that “heavy clashes” had begun late on Thursday “in response to the recent airstrikes carried out by Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Paktia” provinces.
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“In response to repeated provocations and violations by Pakistani military circles, large-scale offensive operations have been launched against Pakistani military positions and installations along the Durand Line,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote in a post on X.
Mujahid later posted that Afghan forces had killed “numerous soldiers” and that “some have also been captured alive”, adding that 15 outposts were “captured from the enemy”.
Pakistan counterattacked, with its information ministry saying on X that Pakistani troops had delivered an “immediate and effective response” to Taliban fire across several sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday.
“Taliban regime forces are being delivered punishment in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors. Early reports confirm heavy casualties on Afghan side with multiple posts and equipment destroyed,” said the ministry.
The two countries’ 2,611-kilometre (1,622-mile) long border is known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has not formally recognised.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s military had carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan, claiming it had killed at least 70 fighters. Afghanistan rejected the claim, saying civilians had been killed, including women and children.
After Thursday’s retaliation from Afghanistan, Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the military in eastern Afghanistan, said there had so far been “no casualties” on the Afghan side.
Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.
More to come…
