Intense Military Conflict Erupts Between Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Border

Global Times - Global Network Islamabad, February 27 (Reporter Zhao Yipu) On the evening of February 26 local time, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated on social media that starting around 8 PM on the 26th, the Afghan army launched a "large-scale" offensive against the positions and military facilities of the Pakistani army in response to the "provocation" by the Pakistani military. The Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting immediately issued a statement saying that Afghanistan had "unprovokedly" initiated military action on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border that evening, and the Pakistani side had promptly made an effective response. It is understood that the military conflict between the two sides began gradually at 6 PM on the 26th and had not ceased by the time of publication.

According to Mujahid, within 2 hours, the Afghan army captured 15 outposts of the Pakistani army along the disputed border between the two countries, killing "many" Pakistani soldiers, with "more Pakistani soldiers captured." The Afghan Taliban's 201st Corps announced that it was "fighting" with the Pakistani side in the border area, focusing on attacking the Pakistani military outposts along the border line.

According to local residents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, on the evening of the 26th, mortars fired from the Afghan side landed in civilian areas of Bajaur district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in 5 people being seriously injured, including two women. The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan stretches for 2,600 kilometers, mostly mountainous, with the vast majority of the border located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the Pakistani side.

The statement from the Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on social media indicated that the Afghan Taliban government misjudged the situation and "unprovokedly" opened fire in the border area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting the Pakistani security forces to immediately launch a rapid and effective response. "The Pakistani army is striking Taliban armed positions in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur regions, causing significant casualties on the Afghan side and destroying multiple outposts and military equipment." The statement also mentioned that Pakistan would take all necessary measures to maintain its territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens.

From the night of February 21 to the early morning of February 22, the Pakistani military conducted airstrikes in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Pakistani side claimed that the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of over 80 terrorists, and this action was taken in light of a series of recent suicide bombings in Pakistan. The Afghan government, however, stated that the Pakistani military airstrikes in the border area resulted in 18 deaths and 5 injuries, with the Afghan Ministry of Defense strongly condemning Pakistan and stating that it would take retaliatory action "at the appropriate time."