Pakistan declares state of open war' after bombing major Afghan cities

"Pakistan has bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring that the hostile neighbours were in a state of open war as a cycle of retaliatory attacks escalated further. Witnesses in Kabul and Kandahar, the southern Afghan city, reported explosions and jets overhead until dawn, while the Taliban government said later that Pakistani surveillance aircraft were still flying over Afghanistan."

"The wave of attacks came after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops on Thursday night following earlier airstrikes by Islamabad. The operation was Pakistan's most widespread bombardment of the Afghan capital and its first airstrikes on Kandahar, the southern power base of the Taliban movement, which returned to power in 2021."

"Pakistan accuses Afghanistan's Taliban government of harbouring militant groups that then stage attacks across the border and also of allying with its historic enemy and regional rival, India. A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the fighting last year but several rounds of peace talks in Istanbul in November failed to produce a formal agreement."

Pakistan launched major airstrikes against Afghanistan, bombing Kabul and Kandahar in response to Afghan forces attacking Pakistani border troops. Pakistan's defence minister declared the nations in open war. Witnesses reported explosions and jets over major cities through dawn. The Taliban government confirmed Pakistani surveillance aircraft continued flying over Afghan airspace. Afghan authorities reported fighting in border areas with Pakistani mortar fire hitting civilian zones and refugee camps. Dozens of casualties were reported with at least 12 killed. Tensions escalated following October border clashes and failed peace talks in Istanbul. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militant groups and allying with India, while Afghanistan responded with attacks on Pakistani military posts.

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