Pakistan Declares 'Open War' on Taliban After Series of Airstrikes on Afghanistan

Tensions between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have reached a critical point, escalating into open armed conflict. The direct cause of the escalation was alleged terrorist attacks launched from Afghan territory, which prompted Islamabad to radically change its policy. The Pakistani air force conducted massive airstrikes on key targets in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul and the city of Jalalabad. According to official statements from the Pakistani armed forces, these operations resulted in the deaths of over 300 Afghan fighters and soldiers. Islamabad argues that its patience has run out due to Kabul's lack of response to the presence of terrorist groups in border areas. The United States expressed support for 'Pakistan's right to self-defense,' significantly strengthening the country's international position, while simultaneously raising concerns among humanitarian organizations. Relations between the two countries have been defined for decades by the dispute over the Durand Line, a border demarcated by the British in 1893, which the governments in Kabul have never formally recognized as final.However, the latest reports from the morning of February 28, 2026, suggest that Afghan air defense managed to respond to the attack. Taliban authorities announced the downing of a Pakistani fighter jet and the arrest of a pilot who reportedly ejected over Afghan territory. If fully confirmed by independent sources, this information could mark a turning point in the current phase of the conflict, further complicating de-escalation attempts. Despite such drastic events, a Taliban spokesperson signaled initial openness to talks, stating that further war serves neither side's interests. Paradoxically, Pakistani diplomats are currently taking a harder stance, rejecting for now the possibility of dialogue with a government they believe supports terrorism targeting Pakistani citizens. The situation is complicated by reports of two powerful explosions in Jalalabad, which shook the city just as the international community was intensifying mediation efforts. For years, Pakistan was accused of supporting the Taliban in their fight against the US-led coalition, but after their return to power in 2021, this alliance quickly gave way to mutual distrust and border incidents.The European Council and senior European Union officials have called on both sides to immediately cease hostilities. Fears of a full-scale war in the region are justified, considering Pakistan's military potential as a nuclear power and the Taliban's guerrilla warfare experience. Experts emphasize that Pakistan made a political miscalculation, hoping that the Taliban's return to power would provide 'strategic depth' and peace on its western border. Instead, there has been a sharp increase in activity by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), leading to the current invasion. Global attention is now focused on the fate of the captured pilot and whether intense pressure from Washington and Brussels will force both capitals back to the negotiating table before the conflict spills over into neighboring provinces of both countries.