Pakistan’s defense minister says latest clashes with Taliban mean ‘open war.’ What’s happening?

Pakistan’s defense minister says latest clashes with Taliban mean ‘open war.’ What’s happening?

The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has reignited with renewed hostilities, as both nations exchange artillery and missile fire in a volatile region marked by rugged terrain and long-standing tensions. Islamabad’s defense minister recently stated that his country’s patience had reached its limit, labeling the current conflict as an “open war” against the Taliban-led Afghan government. This escalation follows a series of attacks attributed to the Taliban, which have prompted a robust response from Pakistan.

Recent reports indicate that the Afghan Taliban initiated strikes on Thursday night, targeting Pakistani military outposts along sections of their shared, contested frontier. These attacks, which span 1,600 miles through mountains and deserts, are said to be retaliation for Pakistan’s weekend bombing of militant camps in Afghanistan, an operation that resulted in at least 18 fatalities. In response, Pakistan launched “Operation Righteous Fury” on Friday, with airstrikes reported in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar—regions historically linked to Taliban operations and leadership.

“I was terrified,” said a Kabul resident, who opted for anonymity due to safety concerns. “Then we heard gunfire. When we looked out of our apartment window, we saw bullet-like flames going up in the sky.” The woman noted that she remained awake at 5 a.m., anxious about the next potential strike, and described how most nearby homes had their lights on since the initial explosion.

“A series of explosions” were heard in Pakistan’s Bajaur district on Thursday night, according to Muhammad Ullah, a local resident. The sounds persisted into the early morning, as a mortar shell from the Afghan Taliban struck a house, injuring five individuals, including two children and a woman, as reported by police officer Fazal Akbar.

Both sides have issued conflicting casualty reports. Pakistan claimed to have neutralized 133 Taliban fighters in its airstrikes, while Afghanistan reported eight of its own soldiers killed. CNN is unable to confirm these figures due to the remote nature of the conflict zone. The escalation marks a significant shift in Pakistan’s counterinsurgency approach, with targeted strikes on Taliban infrastructure now central to its strategy.

Historically, Pakistan and Afghanistan have had a complex relationship. After the Taliban was removed from power by NATO in 2001, Islamabad became a key supporter of the group, sheltering its fighters and aiding their insurgency against the U.S.-backed Afghan government. However, following the Taliban’s return to Kabul in 2021, Pakistan has accused the group of harboring its own militants within Afghan territory. This claim aligns with the Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s November remarks, in which he noted that many Taliban leaders still maintain assets in Pakistan.

Asif further criticized Afghanistan on Friday, accusing it of recruiting global terrorists and spreading extremism while neglecting human rights for its population. The current surge in violence, which has claimed over 1,200 lives in 2025 alone, underscores the deepening regional instability. Analysts suggest the attacks may reflect a broader pattern of retaliation, with Pakistan citing the Afghan Taliban’s role in sheltering militants as a key motive.