Pakistan launched **Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq** (“Anger of Truth/Justice/Righteous Anger”) on the morning of 27 February, following Taliban cross-border attacks late on 26 February (Thursday night). Pakistani airstrikes hit Taliban military positions in **Kabul**, **Kandahar**, and **Paktia** (not always specified as entire cities, but military sites in/near them). Explosions were reported in Kabul, where residents heard the sounds of jets and explosions. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described it as “**open war**”, and said the Taliban had run out of patience due to their harboring of TTP militants and unprovoked attacks. PM spokesperson Musharraf Zaidi and Information Minister Ataullah Tarar claimed that 133 Taliban fighters were killed, over 200 were wounded, several posts were destroyed/captured, and equipment (e.g., tanks, artillery) was damaged.
Taliban spokesperson **Zabihullah Mujahid** confirmed the attacks in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, but initially reported **no casualties**, calling it “cowardly.” Afghanistan claimed that in a retaliatory “large-scale attacking operation” late on 26 February **55 Pakistani soldiers** were killed, some were captured, posts were captured (e.g., 15-19 were claimed), and Pakistani bases were destroyed. Pakistan denied major losses, and admitted that only **2 soldiers were killed** and **3 were injured** in the initial encounter. Taliban military spokesperson Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi called the action a timely revenge.
This trend follows earlier Pakistani attacks (e.g., on 21–22 February on alleged TTP/ISIS-K camps in Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, which according to the UN killed 13 civilians, including women/children). A fragile ceasefire brokered by Qatar since late 2025 has broken down amid tit-for-tat violence.
**Human impact**: Panic on the border; People evacuated near **Torkham** crossing due to shelling/artillery; Crossings were closed, halting repatriation of Afghans and leaving refugees stranded. Thousands of people were affected in dangerous areas.
There was no full declaration of war except in rhetoric; This has further intensified the border clashes with airstrikes and ground fighting. Iran offered to mediate. The claims have been widely unconfirmed, with vastly different data from both sides.
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