Pakistan declares ‘Open War’ with Afghanistan, bombs major cities including Kabul

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
ISLAMABAD, FEBRUARY 27 (STC): Major cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, were bombed by Pakistan on Friday, reports a cross section of media. Pakistan’s Defence Minister has said the neighbours at “open war” following months of tit-for-tat clashes, reports said.
Earlier, Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops on Thursday (February 26, 2026) night over earlier air strikes by Islamabad.
It’s notable that relations between these two nations 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, reports said.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan. However, the Taliban government denies any such involvement.
Even as Qatar and Turkey, brokered several rounds of negotiations followed by a ceasefire, the efforts have failed to produce a lasting agreement between the two neighbouring countries.
“Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia [province] and Kandahar,” Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an “all-out confrontation” with the Taliban government.
“Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you,” he posted on the social media platform.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country’s armed forces can “have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions”.
(Straight Talk Communications I Inputs from global news agencies)