Pakistan on Fire and Its Effects on India

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

News about Imran Khan's death and the role of Asif Munir
Asim Munir might have the entire Pakistani army under his command, but nothing scares him more than Imran Khan. Munir engineered a regime change and put Imran behind bars, but the cricketer-turned-politician's aura has only grown. This is why one Pathan scares Pakistan's Punjabi-led hybrid regime.

The relationship between former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Asim Munir is deeply personal. Yes, the feud involving Khan's mystical wife, Bushra Bibi, has created bad blood with Munir, Pakistan's de facto ruler. But that aside, the personal animosity lies in something more combustible, which could make things tough for Munir at this critical juncture when Pathans, marginalized, resentful, and unwilling to bow to Punjabi domination, have vocally taken on Pakistan's ethnic power bloc—the Punjabis, dominant and accustomed to holding the country's wealth, authority, and institutions.

Army Chief Asim Munir might have quietly crowned himself the de facto supreme authority in Pakistan, but the regime operating under his command seemed terrified to stay silent for more than a day about the whereabouts or well-being of the imprisoned former prime minister. Imran Khan hadn't been heard of in four weeks. And, after an Afghan outlet claimed he might be dead, thousands on Thursday gathered outside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. But jail authorities, or Punjab's top police officials, for long, had no answers for them on why they defied the court's order of weekly meetings. Access to Imran Khan had been cut off, leaving his family, party leaders, and lawyers with no information about him.

The last time rumors of Khan's death spread, the government rushed to issue a clarification. Why did Islamabad stay silent for this long?

"Asim Munir's fear of Imran Khan is so deep that he resorts to abduction, torture, and jailing anyone who dares to stand with Imran Khan. A powerless, insecure dictator masquerading as a general cannot silence a nation awakened by truth," said his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), from one of its verified handles on November 20—the 17th day of Imran Khan being detained with access to no acquaintance.

Does the Pathan politician terrify the Punjabi field marshal? Does Khan's moral authority, his victimhood, supporters, resistance, and community threaten the legitimacy Munir is trying to hold over a state built on coercion?

The dispute between Munir and Khan is personal. Munir was ousted as ISI chief by Khan in 2019 over alleged corruption probes into Bushra Bibi . The ISI chief is Pakistan's second most powerful military post after that of the army chief. The dispute is also institutional, with the army viewing Imran Khan and his party's popularity as a threat to its grip.

But Munir might be dreading something deeper. The simmering Pathan resentment against Punjabi hegemony.

Pathans, or Pashtuns, have long felt sidelined in Pakistan's power structure, where Punjabis dominate the military, bureaucracy, and economy. From historical rifts of the 1970s Pashtun nationalist movements for autonomy to violent clashes in the 1980s over resource allocation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and ongoing grievances in Balochistan, where Pashtuns ally with Baloch against Punjabi exploitation, instances of friction are plenty.

Punjab's control over federal funds has left Pathan-dominated KP underdeveloped. It has fuelled accusations of ethnic bias. This resentment spills across borders, with Pashtun solidarity between Pakistan and Afghanistan unbreakable. Millions of Afghan refugees, mostly Pashtun, have sheltered in Pakistan since the 1980s Soviet invasion. Recently, tensions flared after Pakistan's airstrikes on Kabul and eastern Afghanistan, which killed civilians, including 10 in Khost and Paktika just days ago. This, along with the sending of millions of Afghans back to Afghanistan in the biting cold, has sparked outrage among the community. Kabul has accused Islamabad of aggression, while Pashtuns on both sides have decried it as Punjabi-led oppression. This has boosted anti-establishment fervor in certain pockets of Pakistan.

"The latest official rhetoric from the military establishment paints Pashtuns, Afghans, and the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as the problem, conveniently linking them with Talibanization and internal insecurity," Pakistani politician and lawyer Barrister Shahzad Akbar wrote in his October column in Global Village Space, a diaspora news portal.

"The country's most powerful man is recasting a domestic political crisis as an ethnic and security one, dividing Pakistanis to justify further militarization of national life," he added.

As thousands of supporters of Imran Khan camped outside Adiala Jail to meet him, a severe and chaotic state crackdown unfolded. It was obvious who was behind it. It came at a key moment for Asim Munir, who rose to near-untouchable status after the 27th Constitutional Amendment earlier in November. By amending Article 243, it effectively crowned him Chief of Defence Forces with lifetime immunity, command over the army, navy, and air force, and new curbs on the Supreme Court. This cemented Munir's military supremacy amid economic troubles and threats from the TTP, which is believed to enjoy support among some Pathans. That is why Munir is treading cautiously.

Imran Khan, now jailed for over 840 days since August 2023 on graft charges, embodies, for many, a kind of Pathan defiance. Releasing him risks mass unrest, especially in KP, the only province where the PTI still holds power despite fears for their lives and ongoing crackdowns.

"Reports surface of Imran Khan's killing. If true, the Pashtoon belt could see a chain reaction. Blood feud looms. His martyrdom would ignite fury from Khyber to Kandahar. Pakistan Army's Asim Munir can't contain that. And if Imran is alive, this increases pressure for his well-being," Delhi-based journalist Ninad Sheth wrote on X.

"Why the secrecy? Because the regime led by Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif fears even a 30-second clip of Imran Khan will ignite the streets. His support base is massive, and the establishment knows it. When you're scared of showing a man's face, it means something is very wrong," said Indian filmmaker Abhilash Badli.

"Asim Munir thinks jailing Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, several leaders, and thousands of workers will secure his throne. Power-hungry and scared, yet still failing miserably to break the will of the people. The more he clings, the smaller he looks," PTI UK posted in September.

Khan's Pashtun roots amplify his appeal among a community long weary of marginalization. Khan has become, for Munir, the bone stuck in the throat. He also has substantial support from his community behind him. One wrong move now, and it could unravel Munir's iron-fisted rule.​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

In spite of India receiving a reasonable amount of support following the brutal terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam earlier this year, the Pakistanis nevertheless managed to minimise the expressions of support for Indian actions in Operation Sindoor.

Its military managed to make the case globally that they held off Indian attacks, even setting off some ill-advised comparisons between Chinese and Western weapons platforms.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the White House, September 25, 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy X

With the United States, the Pakistanis have managed to eke out a relatively favourable trade agreement that reduced tariffs on the country to 19 percent from the earlier 29 percent and also secured US investment in the country's supposed fossil fuel reserves.

Its army chief has met President Donald Trump twice in recent times, once for a longer-than-expected lunch and once with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which Mr. Trump was shown a display of the critical minerals and rare earths that Pakistan (also supposedly) possesses.

What is certain is that the US Exim Bank has committed millions to financing mining projects in the country, including the gold and copper mine at Reko Diq.

They have lavished praise on Mr. Trump, nominating him for the Nobel Prize and so on—and the president seems to have developed a decided partiality for a country he once condemned as untrustworthy.

A 'tilt,' as they used to say in the 1970s.

The Chinese might have lost some enthusiasm for their 'iron friends' in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, but they are not turning off the tap completely.

Mr. Sharif's visit to Beijing last month was accompanied by news that a new $8.5 billion deal for investment was signed—though how much of that will actually materialise and at what cost to the Pakistani public is not clear.

We have never had answers to such questions about China's big plans for Pakistan, of course. Some existing Chinese investments in the country have had to be co-financed or taken over by more traditional multilateral sources.

But calmer relations with the US may in fact help China's activity in Pakistan; there have been reports in that country's press that a recent American delegation even expressed interest in investing in the Chinese-controlled port of Gwadar, perhaps by building a terminal there that could receive shipments of liquefied natural gas from the US.

Even Russia, which should by any reasonable standard be grateful to India for not adding to its international isolation, has made a few startling statements of late.

President Vladimir Putin has described Pakistan and Russia as 'natural allies' and called Islamabad Moscow's 'traditional partner in Asia.'

It's hard to understand exactly where this is coming from, but then nobody ever really knows what Mr. Putin is thinking at any point.

The Russians even put New Delhi in the difficult position of accepting Pakistan as an 'observer' in the Zapad military exercises in which the Indian military participated (alongside China and more than 15 other nations).

And, finally, there was the bombshell news that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a defence agreement that includes mutual protection.

We can disagree over whether this means that Rawalpindi's nuclear umbrella has been extended to the Gulf.

It is also the case that the two countries have a long history of security cooperation, with the Pakistani army as the senior partner.

But it certainly represents something of an improvement over the past decade, during which Islamabad's refusal to join Riyadh in its war against the Houthis in Yemen had caused a chill in relations.

How has the Pakistani establishment—discredited, undemocratic, and profligate, running an economy that has signally failed to invest in itself and develop productive potential—managed this series of achievements? Partly it is because they are willing to make promises and pay rhetorical tributes to leaders like Mr. Trump in a way that the Indian leadership simply cannot.

But partly it is old-fashioned flexibility—finding ways in which they can be useful to multiple partners.

New Delhi might have loudly welcomed an age of multipolarity, hedging, and strategic autonomy. But it appears that Islamabad has an edge; hence, India has to gird up its loins.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Pakistani drones are suspected to hover around the Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch districts, along the LoC and IB. All the flying objects were seen hovering over the Indian airspace and hovering over sensitive locations and then going back towards Pakistan, the officials added. At least five drone movements were observed. All the flying objects were seen entering Indian airspace from across the border, hovering briefly over sensitive locations, and then retreating back towards Pakistan. Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir were put on high alert. Security forces were prompted to activate their anti-unmanned aerial system to respond and to effectively conduct extensive ground search operations to rule out the possibility of arms or contraband being dropped on the Indian side on January 11, 2026.​

In the Nowshera sector of Rajouri, the army fired at the drones with medium and light machine guns to drive them away.

It is the most significant incident along the tense border since a four-day conflict last May that pushed South Asia to the brink of nuclear war. Last year’s fighting signalling a resurgence in hostilities after nearly eight months of relative calm.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

India called out Pakistan for misusing United Nations platforms to drive its “divisive agenda” after Islamabad's envoy raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the General Assembly.

IMAGE: Eldos Mathew Punnoose, Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN. Photograph: @IndiaUNNewYork/X
Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eldos Mathew Punnoose on Thursday said that the right to self-determination must not be abused to encourage secession in pluralistic and democratic states.
“At a time when member states have to rise beyond their narrow considerations, Pakistan continues to misuse all platforms and processes in the UN to drive their divisive agenda,” Punnoose said.
"This forum is no exception either, and Pakistan made an unwarranted reference to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, an integral and inalienable part of India," Punnoose said while delivering the national statement at the UN General Assembly Plenary on "Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization."
“The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle enshrined in the UN Charter. However, this right must not be abused to encourage secession in pluralistic and democratic states. Though habituated, Pakistan would do well if they do not resort to baseless allegations and falsehoods and portray a picture that is completely detached from reality,” he said.
The strong retort by India came after Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad made a reference to Jammu and Kashmir in his remarks in the General Assembly.
Pakistan repeatedly raises the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations and its various platforms but fails to get any traction from the wider international community on the matter.
Punnoose, in his remarks, also stressed that the Global South has its unique set of developmental challenges that cut across development financing and climate justice and financing, among other areas.
“India has consistently endeavored to bring these to the forefront across all UN platforms. Concerted and focused follow-up action is required on this front. Moving forward, there is a need to translate the sentiments of the Global South to concrete and tangible steps,” he said.
As the UN membership takes stock of the past, it is important to reflect upon the current context and the way ahead for the largest multilateral organization, the United Nations.
“The United Nations is going through a crucial phase, as it faces various critical challenges. World citizenry expects the UN to deliver on each of the three pillars—peace and security, development, and human rights,” he said.
India emphasized that the UN's inability to purposefully intervene on its critical functions leads to questions related to efficacy, legitimacy, and credibility. “This is quite pronounced in the case of the maintenance of international peace and security. As conflicts rage across different parts of the globe, the world hopes the UN to deliver, to put an end to human suffering and misery," Punnoose said.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Quetta in Ruins After Deadly Attacks​

Quetta, in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, witnessed devastating attacks last week, resulting in significant damage to police stations and infrastructure.
Images document the aftermath, showing destroyed vehicles, damaged buildings, and security forces at the scene.
Army personnel and officials surveyed the destruction while residents mourned the casualties in this volatile region affected by ongoing violence.

IMAGE: A damaged police station in Quetta, here and below. Photograph: Reuters

Photograph: Reuters

IMAGE: Damaged vehicles at a police station in Quetta. Photograph: Reuters

Imahe: A damaged site in Quetta. Photograph: Reuters

IMAGE: A person walks past the remains of a damaged vehicle at a site, after militant attacks, in Quetta, Pakistan, February 1, 2026. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

IMAGE: A road leading to a damaged site is cordoned off. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

IMAGE: Army soldiers gather at the site in Quetta. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

IMAGE: Soldiers and residents gather to offer prayers for Liaquat Ali, a soldier of the Frontier Corps Balochistan, who was killed in the attacks, during his funeral in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Photograph: Ehsan Khattak/Reuters
Rediff News
February 05, 2026 17:01 IST

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Pakistan violates ceasefire in Kupwara, no casualties​

Source: PTI, February 20, 2026 21:49 IST
Pakistani forces allegedly violated the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, firing small arms at Indian posts across the Line of Control, raising concerns about regional stability.

Key Points​

• The ceasefire violation involved small arms fire from Pakistani posts towards Indian posts.
• The firing incident occurred around noon at Toot Mar Gali (TMG).
• No casualties or injuries were reported as a result of the ceasefire violation.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday, officials said.
"A ceasefire violation took place around noon at TMG (Toot Mar Gali) in the Nowgam Sector of Kupwara (in north Kashmir) when PoK posts fired through small arms on Indian posts," the officials said.
The firing stopped after some time, they mentioned further, adding there was no loss of life or injury.
Meanwhile, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Friday after troops foiled an infiltration bid in the area a day before, officials said.
The recovery was made during a comprehensive search operation conducted in the Nathua Tibba area of the Sundarbani sector along the Line of Control (LoC), a day after troops thwarted an infiltration attempt on early Friday, they said.
Officials said troops spotted blood-stained tracks in the area, indicating that the infiltrating terrorists may have sustained serious injuries while retreating.
During the search, security forces recovered a cache of weapons and supplies, including one AK-47 rifle, two magazines with ammunition, three rucksacks, blankets, rations and clothing, they said.
The operation, launched by troops of the Crossed Swords Division under the White Knight Corps, is in progress, with heightened vigilance and area domination is being maintained to prevent further infiltration attempts, officials added

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Pakistan bombs 7 terrorist camps in Afghanistan in retaliatory strike​

February 22, 2026
The Pakistan military operation targeting terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan escalated tensions between the two nations and raised concerns about regional security

• The recent attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing, were allegedly perpetrated by Khwarij on the behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership.
• Pakistan claims the Afghan Taliban regime has failed to prevent terrorists from using Afghan territory to launch attacks.
• Pakistan urges the Afghan government to fulfill its obligations under the Doha Agreement to deny the use of its soil against other countries.
• Pakistan emphasizes that the safety and security of its citizens remains its top priority amid deteriorating relations with the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan, in a midnight military action, targeted at least seven terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan in retaliation for the recent rebel attacks, it emerged on early Sunday.
In the latest terrorist incident, an army lieutenant colonel and a soldier were killed in a suicide attack in the Bannu area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.

According to a statement by the ministry of information and broadcasting, Pakistan has conclusive evidence that these acts of terrorism, including at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad, one each in Bajaur and Bannu, followed by another incident in Bannu on Saturday, were allegedly perpetrated by Khwarij on the behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.
"In this backdrop, Pakistan, in a retributive response, has carried out intelligence-based selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban of FAK and its affiliates and ISKP at the border region of the Pakistan-Afghan border with precision and accuracy," it said.
The minister added that Pakistan expects and reiterates that the interim Afghan government fulfill its obligations.
Pakistan also expects the international community to play a positive and constructive role by urging the Taliban regime to stand by its commitments as part of the Doha Agreement to deny use of its soil against other countries, an act vital for regional and global peace and security, it stated.
It further said that Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time, the "safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority."

Deteriorating relations​

Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have deteriorated due to the alleged failure of Kabul to stop terrorists from using its soil to attack Pakistan.
Last year in October, the two sides were briefly engaged in an armed conflict in which 23 Pakistani soldiers and over 200 Afghan Taliban soldiers were killed, according to the Pakistani army.
Source: PTI

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

India unveils first counter-terrorism policy, Prahaar, 23 February 2026​

File image
The government on Monday unveiled the country's first counter-terrorism policy, "Prahaar," setting out a multi-layered strategy based on "zero tolerance," intelligence-led prevention, and disruption of extremist violence that aims to deny terrorists, their financiers, and supporters access to funds, weapons, and safe havens.

The policy unveiled by the home ministry is based on seven key pillars to counter the terror threats emanating from India or abroad—prevention, responses, aggregating internal capacities, human rights and "rule of law"-based processes, attenuating the conditions enabling terrorism including radicalization, aligning and shaping the international efforts to counter terrorism, and recovery and resilience through a whole-of-society approach.

"There has been a history of sporadic instability in the immediate neighborhood of India, which has often given rise to ungoverned spaces. Besides, a few countries in the region have sometimes used terrorism as an instrument of state policy," the document said, without naming Pakistan.

"Notwithstanding this, India does not link terrorism to any specific religion, ethnicity, nationality, or civilization. India has always denounced terrorism and its use by any actor for achieving any stated or unstated ends unambiguously and unequivocally," it added.

Stating that India has consistently stood by the victims of terrorism and has been steadfast in its belief that there can be no justification whatsoever for violence in the world, the document said it is this principled approach that informs New Delhi's policy of "zero tolerance" against terrorism. -- PTI

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Now that you are seeing Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar and more suffering damage due to Iranian missiles, remember what happened ten months ago in India.

Pakistan had launched 300–400 Asisguard Songar Turkish Drones across 36 Indian locations in May 2025.

Plus, another 600 or so -
> Yiha-III Class Loitering Munitions.
> Swarm drones and commercial quadcopters.
> Fatah-II long-range missile.
> Fatah-I Ballistic missile.
> Chinese PL-15 long-range missiles from J-10C jets.

These thousand drones and missiles could have killed thousands of civilians in India. Could have damaged airfields and defence establishments. They were targeting 1500+ km area in India.

But almost every missile or drone was intercepted. We didn't see any major civilian casualties.

Because India had two killer punches. The Russian S-400 and the Indian Akashteer defensive shields. Plus precise satellite input from ISRO.

We should be ever thankful to great men like Prahlada Ramarao who gave India these massive life saving Akash missiles We don't thank them enough for keeping us safe in a hostile world.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

How Taliban struck Pakistan where it hurts (TOI)​

Mar 09, 2026, 04:00 IST
The Afghan defence ministry says it carried out precision airstrikes on key Pakistani military facilities, as clashes between the two sides show no signs of easing
Clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified, with explosions reported in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on March 1. The Taliban government said it had thwarted a Pakistani airstrike targeting the Bagram airfield, a former US base, according to multiple reports.

Several Pakistani fighter jets attempted to bomb the site early on March 1, The New York Times reported, citing Fazal Rahim Meskinyar, a spokesman for Parwan Province police. Afghan anti-aircraft systems intercepted the missiles and no casualties were reported, he said.


Afghanistan’s defence ministry also said it carried out precision airstrikes on key Pakistani military facilities, including Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi. It claimed the strikes inflicted “significant damage” on the targeted sites.

The Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi’s Chakala area was previously struck by India during Operation Sindoor last May, a campaign launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

The latest escalation follows months of cross-border tensions. Fighting flared again on February 26, when Afghan forces launched an offensive along the frontier, prompting Pakistan to respond with ground and air operations.

While Pakistan said its airstrikes had killed more than 270 Taliban fighters and wounded over 400 others, Kabul claimed Afghan forces had killed 55 Pakistani soldiers.

In a post on X, Afghanistan’s defence ministry said the operations were conducted in response to recent aerial incursions by the Pakistani military.

Footage shared by the Taliban authorities appeared to show a kamikaze drone striking Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi.

“Today, the Air Force of the Ministry of National Defense conducted precise and coordinated aerial operations against key military installations in Pakistan targeting the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the 12th Division headquarters in Quetta (Balochistan), the Khwazai Camp in the Mohmand Agency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as several other significant Pakistani military facilities and command centres,” the ministry said.

In recent days, {censored}-for-tat military exchanges between Afghanistan and Pakistan have intensified, with multiple rounds of cross-border fire. Afghan forces earlier claimed they had shot down a Pakistani fighter jet over Jalalabad and captured its pilot alive.

“A Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in the sixth district of Jalalabad city, and its pilot was captured alive,” a police spokesman told news agency AFP.

Wahidullah Mohammadi, a military spokesman in eastern Afghanistan, confirmed that the Pakistani jet was downed by Afghan forces “and the pilot was captured alive” — a claim Pakistan dismissed as “totally untrue”.

Twice bitten

In May 2025, India launched what a Switzerland-based think tank described as a “series of spectacular strikes” against Pakistan’s principal air force bases following the Pahalgam terror attack. The assessment said the operations were not merely symbolic but operationally decisive.

By targeting infrastructure and assets critical to sustaining Pakistani air operations, India signalled a shift from defensive deterrence to offensive dominance.

Between 2am and 5am on May 10, the Indian Air Force carried out long-range precision strikes using BrahMos, SCALP-EG and Rampage missiles. The weapons were launched from within Indian airspace by Su-30MKIs, Jaguars and Rafales, hitting seven targets up to 200 km inside Pakistan, including a surface-to-air missile battery and five major air bases.

In northern Pakistan, Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi was struck by at least one missile, reportedly destroying a Pakistan Air Force command-and-control centre. Murid Air Base, a hub for Pakistan’s medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone fleet, sustained damage to multiple hangars and a drone control centre.

Satellite imagery later confirmed damage at four Pakistani air bases: Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, PAF Base Bholari, and PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad.

Pak targets former US airbase

Afghan officials said on March 1 that Pakistan had conducted airstrikes on Bagram Air Base, its most prized military asset and one coveted by President Donald Trump.

“This morning at around 5 am, several fighter jets belonging to Pakistan’s military regime attempted to carry out a bombing operation within the airspace of Bagram Air Base,” Fazal Rahim Meskinyar, a spokesperson for the Parwan province police, where Bagram is located, said in a statement cited by NYT.

Meskinyar said that Afghan antiaircraft weapons had repelled the missiles, and that there were no reported casualties.

Hamidullah Fitrat, a spokesperson for the Taliban government, said that Afghanistan had faced an “aerial aggression” at the base. He did not say whether the attack had caused any damage. Islamabad has not commented on this matter yet.

Bagram Airfield was the nerve centre of the 20-year US war in Afghanistan and a big trophy when the Taliban retook control of the country in 2021 after the US withdrew its forces.

Since returning to the presidency in 2025, Trump has said that the US should never have abandoned Bagram and that he wanted to reclaim it. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” he said in September.

Trump said Bagram was strategically important for the US because “it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”

The Pakistani military has hit dozens of small Afghan military bases, ammunition depots and outposts in recent days, declaring that it is in “open war” against the Taliban government. Source: NYT and agencies

Pakistan-Afghanistan war Highlights: ‘Afghanistan willing to negotiate’, says Taliban rulers as conflict escalates. Amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, US President Donald Trump Friday said that Pakistan is doing “terrifically well”. He added that he gets along with Pakistan very well. Mar 1 2026 12:37 AM IST​

Taliban fighters look up while manning an armed pickup truck at the Afghan side of the Ghulam Khan crossing with Pakistan in Khost province, Afghanistan. (Photo: AP)
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Today News Highlights: Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban military entered its third day on Saturday, following overnight clashes as the international community expressed increasing concern about the conflict and called for urgent talks. Taliban rules said on Friday that Afghanistan is willing to negotiate. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahi said: “The Islamic emirate of Afghanistan has always tried to resolve issues through dialogue, and now also we want to resolve this matter through dialogue,” he said. The United States expressed support for what it called Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. President Trump also said that “Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”
What is happening?: Explosions and the sound of aircraft were heard in Kabul early Friday, hours after Afghanistan said it had launched attacks on Pakistani border posts. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X: “Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you.” Pakistan’s military said it launched an operation named “Ghazab Lil Haq” in response to what it called unprovoked firing from across the border. Afghanistan said its forces had carried out “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line.
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Casualty: Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said its forces captured more than a dozen Pakistani posts and destroyed 19 check posts and two bases. It said the fighting ended at midnight. Pakistan rejected these claims. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded. He said 36 Afghan fighters were killed. Afghanistan said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and that several were captured. It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The casualty figures from both sides have not been independently verified.
How did it all start?: The escalation follows Pakistani airstrikes last Sunday along the Afghan border. Islamabad said it targeted camps of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Afghanistan however alleged that the strikes hit civilian areas and violated its sovereignty. Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the cross-border assault was in response to repeated Pakistani actions.
Current situation

• Pakistan said it carried out strikes targeting Afghan military facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Afghan officials reported civilian injuries near the Torkham border crossing after shelling hit a camp for returnees.
• Residents on both sides have been moved to safer areas. The situation remains tense, with both countries accusing each other of starting the violence.

Feb 28, 2026 09:13 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Pakistani and Afghan forces clash as diplomatic efforts intensify
Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban military entered its third day on Saturday as foreign governments expressed increasing concern and called for urgent talks.
Pakistan’s strikes on Friday hit Taliban military installations and posts, some of them in Kabul and Kandahar, in one of the deepest Pakistani incursionsinto its western neighbour in years, officials said.
Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who it says are waging an insurgency inside Pakistan, a ⁠charge the Taliban denies. (Reuters


Feb 28, 2026 05:57 PM IST
Pak Foreign Minister Dar condemns 'unwarranted attacks' on Iran. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday condemned the “unwarranted attacks” on Iran by Israel and the US, demanding an immediate cessation of the conflict.
Dar said this while talking over the phone to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi who called the Pakistani leader after his country was attacked. (PTI)

Feb 28, 2026 11:56 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Pakistan, Afghan Taliban forces clash as diplomatic efforts intensify
Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban forces continued into a third day on Saturday after overnight clashes, as the international community voiced growing concern and urged immediate dialogue.
On Friday, Pakistan carried out strikes targeting Taliban military sites and positions, including locations in Kabul and Kandahar. Officials said the operation marked one of Islamabad’s deepest incursions into Afghan territory in recent years.
Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, whom it says are responsible for an ongoing insurgency within Pakistan—an allegation the Taliban denies.
Pakistan said the strikes were carried out in response to cross-border attacks, while Kabul condemned them as a violation of its sovereignty. Afghan authorities stated they remain open to talks but cautioned that any further escalation would have serious consequences. –With inputs from Reuters

Feb 28, 2026 10:45 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War | About 300 Afghan Taliban personnel, its allied terrorist groups killed: Pak
Pakistan authorities announced that nearly 300 Afghan Taliban members and allied militant fighters have been killed as the ongoing operation continues.
In a late-night update, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said security forces had eliminated 297 fighters linked to the Afghan Taliban regime, while more than 450 Afghan operatives were wounded.
Summarizing the results of the campaign, the minister stated that Pakistan destroyed 89 Taliban posts and seized 18 others during Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. He added that about 135 tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed. According to the minister, the air force also struck 29 locations across Afghanistan.
Pakistan launched the large-scale retaliatory operation, code-named Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, after Afghan forces reportedly carried out simultaneous attacks on 53 locations along the 2,600-kilometer border. (With inputs from PTI)
Feb 28, 2026 10:41 AM IST

Pakistan-Afghanistan War: US has got measure of 'self-declared Vishwaguru': Congress' dig at PM after Trump's Pak praise
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that US President Donald Trump’s support for Pakistan in its war with Afghanistan is another setback for Indian ‘huglomacy.’
In a post on X, Ramesh said, “President Trump’s full-throated and categorical support for Pakistan in its war with Afghanistan is another setback for Indian ‘huglomacy.’ He has once again gone out of his way to praise the man whose inflammatory remarks provided the backdrop to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam on April 22nd, 2025 that were orchestrated by Pakistan.”
He said that India’s economic diplomacy with US has “failed badly” as PM Modi surrendered to a one-sided trade deal.
“Our economic diplomacy with the US has failed badly, as evinced by Mr. Modi suddenly surrendering to a clearly one-sided trade deal in which India has made firm pledges especially to import from American farmers, while the US has made vague commitments to allow for greater exports from India.”
“Not only that, days after the agreement, the US imposed a 125.87% import duty on solar modules from India. Our strategic diplomacy has received repeated blows by President Trump repeatedly cozying up to the Pakistani establishment and reverting to the hyphenation of India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister may, through his means, manage to get awards. But the fact is that the self-declared Vishwaguru has been exposed and the world, especially the US, has got his measure,” he added.

Feb 28, 2026 09:22 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Afghan Taliban open to talks after Pakistan bombs Kabul, Kandahar
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers said on Friday they were willing to negotiate after Pakistan bombed their forces in major cities and said the allies-turned-foes were in “open war.”
Pakistan struck the Afghan capital Kabul, the city of Kandahar, where Taliban leaders are based, and other towns, a Taliban spokesman said. The attacks were its first directly targeting Afghanistan’s government over allegations it harbours militants seeking to overthrow the Islamabad government.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said there were civilian casualties on Friday but did not provide details. In Kabul, thick plumes of black smoke rose from two sites and a huge blaze was also visible in video verified by Reuters. Reuters witnesses said many ambulance sirens could be heard following loud blasts and the sound of jets on Friday. –Reuters

Feb 28, 2026 09:04 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: 'Pakistan doing terrifically well’, says Trump as conflict escalates
Amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, US President Donald Trump Friday said that Pakistan is doing “terrifically well”. He added that he gets along with Pakistan very well.
“I would, but I get along with Pakistan very well, very, very well. You have a great Prime Minister, you have a great General there. You have a great leader, two of the people that I really respect a lot, and I think that Pakistan is doing terrifically well,” he said.
Trump was responding to a question on Pakistan waging an “open war” against Afghanistan and whether he would intervene to stop the fighting.


Feb 28, 2026 08:57 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: UN chief Guterres deeply concerned by escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan
Speaking on the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that he is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
UN chief is “deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations. He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing Friday.
“We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law; in particular, to ensure that civilians are protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure,” he added. (With PTI inputs)

Feb 28, 2026 08:46 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: US says it supports Pakistan's 'right to defend itself' against Afghan Taliban
The United States Friday expressed support for what it called Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers after Islamabad said earlier in the day that the neighboring countries were in “open war.”
“The United States supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group,” a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. U.S. diplomat Allison Hooker ⁠said on X she spoke on Friday with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. –Reuters

Feb 28, 2026 07:22 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: A hero the Taliban didn’t expect. mAfter a lukewarm shower in the freezing winter of Kabul, Alireza Ahmadi combed his hair, tucked his white shirt into his black pants and stepped back onto the court.. Alireza, 17, is a phenomenon in Afghanistan, playing futsal, a faster indoor variant of soccer played with five on each side. Word had spread that he was participating in a local tournament on a recent afternoon, and fans, their smartphones raised, rushed to snap a selfie with him as he exited the locker room.
Read the full story here.


Feb 28, 2026 05:33 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War| ‘Open war’: Why Pakistan attacked Taliban in Afghanistan and what’s next
Pakistan’s air strikes on Taliban positions in Afghanistan mark the sharpest rupture yet between the two actors once seen as strategic partners. What looks like a sudden escalation is actually the result of years of mistrust, militant spillover and collapsing security understandings along one of the world’s most volatile borders.
Read the full story here.

Feb 28, 2026 05:26 AM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: ‘I get along very well with Pakistan’: Trump signals support for Islamabad amid ‘open war’ with Taliban. US President Donald Trump said he is open to intervening in the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but stressed that he shares a strong relationship with Pakistan’s leadership. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said, “I would (intervene). But I get along with Pakistan very very well. They have a great Prime Minister, a great General. They have a great leader. Two of the people that I really respect a lot. Pakistan is doing terrifically well.” His remarks were reported by Reuters.
Read the full story here.

Feb 28, 2026 04:42 AM IST
LIVE | Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Trump says he's not concerned about impact of Iran attacks on oil prices
Asked about the possible impact of US strikes against Iran on oil prices, President Donald Trump told reporters in Texas, “I’m not concerned. I’m concerned about people’s lives. I’m concerned about long term health for this country. That’s what I’m concerned.”


Feb 28, 2026 04:41 AM IST
LIVE | Pakistan-Afghanistan War: US official expresses support for Pakistan
US Undersecretary of State Allison Hooker spoke with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Amna Baloch, expressing condolences for lives lost in the recent conflict and reiterating support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks. Her statement aligns with President Trump’s comments, highlighting the strong US-Pakistan ties.

Feb 28, 2026 04:38 AM IST
LIVE | Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Why Pakistan attacked Taliban in Afghanistan and what’s next
Pakistan’s air strikes on Taliban positions in Afghanistan mark the sharpest rupture yet between the two actors once seen as strategic partners. What looks like a sudden escalation is actually the result of years of mistrust, militant spillover and collapsing security understandings along one of the world’s most volatile borders.
Read the full story here.

Feb 27, 2026 09:56 PM IST
LIVE | Pakistan-Afghanistan War: JUI-F chief calls for 'restraint and dialogue' to avoid further escalation
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday expressed concern over the prevailing situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling for “restraint, dialogue and a diplomatic approach to avoid further escalation”.
In a statement issued here, Rehman said Pakistan’s security concerns are legitimate and must be acknowledged. However, he emphasised that Afghanistan’s sovereignty and its internal challenges should also be respected. — PTI


Feb 27, 2026 06:45 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: 'Further provocation will be met with befitting response': Pakistan
The Pakistan foreign ministry on Friday said further provocation by Taliban will be met with befitting response.

Feb 27, 2026 06:03 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War: 'Op continuing on directions of PM': Pak military
A spokesperson of Pakistan military on Friday evening said the operation is continuing on the directions of the Prime Minister, the Reuters reported.

Feb 27, 2026 05:30 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live | Afghanistan defense ministry takes to X
The official ‘X’ account of the Ministry of National Defense, Afghanistan posted, “Today at approximately 11:00 AM, the Air Force of the Ministry of National Defense conducted coordinated airstrikes targeting a military camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a military base in Nowshera,…” — PTI

Feb 27, 2026 05:24 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live | UK Foreign Secretary shares concern
UK Foreign Secretary and Labour MP Yvette Cooper took to X to share her concern amid escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. She said, ” The UK is deeply concerned by the significant escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We urge both sides to take immediate steps toward de‑escalation, avoid further harm to civilians, and re‑engage in mediated dialogue.”

Feb 27, 2026 04:33 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live | Afghan Taliban wants to resolve conflict with Pakistan through talks, spokesperson says
Afghanistan wants to ⁠resolve its latest conflict with Pakistan through ⁠dialogue, Afghan Taliban spokesperson ‌Zabihullah Mujahid told ⁠reporters ⁠on Friday, ⁠amid ‌intense fighting between ‌the neighbours ‌this week. — Reuters

Feb 27, 2026 03:43 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live | Russia urges Afghanistan, Pakistan to halt hostilities, seek talks
Amid an escalation of armed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Russia on Friday urged both countries to end the conflict and resolve their differences through diplomatic means.
Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation late Thursday night in response to the alleged border attacks by the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad claimed that 133 Taliban fighters were killed in Operation Ghazab lil Haq. — PTI

Feb 27, 2026 03:03 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live | Afghanistan says it used drones to hit targets in Pakistan
The Afghan Taliban “successfully conducted” air strikes using drones to hit military targets ⁠in Pakistan, its defence ministry and a government spokesperson said on ⁠Friday, as fighting between the neighbours ‌continued.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani Taliban militants had tried ⁠to ⁠use drones against targets in ⁠Pakistan ‌but they were ‌brought down by anti-drone systems and ‌there was “no damage to life”. — Reuters

Feb 27, 2026 02:01 PM IST
'Afghans will defend their beloved homeland': Former Prez Hamid Karzai
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai took to X early Friday to assert that the Afghans would continue to “defend their beloved homeland with complete unity.”
Karzai’s statement comes as Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, in what it calls an “open war” against the Afghan Taliban regime late Thursday night.
“The Pakistani aircraft once again bombed Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. The Afghans will defend their beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage. Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings—those problems it has created itself—but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan,” Karzai wrote on X.

Feb 27, 2026 01:49 PM IST
China voices concern over Pakistan-Afghanistan clash. China is deeply concerned over escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, news agency Reuters reported quoting China’s foreign ⁠ministry on Friday. The statement comes as Pakistani and Afghan forces clashed after ⁠the Taliban launched what ‌it called retaliatory strikes on Pakistani installations. China has been mediating ⁠the ⁠conflict through it own channels, ⁠foreign ‌ministry spokesperson, Mao ‌Ning, said during a regular ‌press conference. China is willing to play a constructive role ⁠in cooling the situation, she ‌added. (Reuters)

Feb 27, 2026 01:46 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live | Explained: How Pakistan-Afghanistan ‘open war’ follows a long history of differences
The latest escalation in violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan follows months of {censored}-for-tat clashes over Islamabad’s accusation that Kabul harbours militants carrying out attacks inside Pakistan.
But the issues between the two countries go back much farther in history. Except for brief periods since 1947, Pakistan-Afghanistan ties have been marked by mutual distrust, rancour, recriminations, and hostility.
This negativity between the two nations has continued during both civilian and direct military rule in Pakistan, and fundamental system transformations, turmoil and two failed superpower interventions in Afghanistan — by the Soviet Union (1979-1989) and the United States (2001-2021). During both, Pakistan has helped the Afghan resistance.

How Pakistan-Afghanistan ‘open war’ follows a long history of differences​

The latest escalation in violence comes after months of {censored}-for-tat clashes over Islamabad’s accusation that Kabul harbours militants carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. But their issues are much deeper, explains a former Ambassador to Afghanistan.​

Written by: Vivek Katju
Feb 27, 2026 12:23 PM IST

Taliban soldiers carry a rocket launcher in a vehicle, following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, near Torkham border in Afghanistan, February 27, 2026. Reuters

Pakistan on Friday (February 27) bombed Kabul and two other Afghan provinces, hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistani troops. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the situation as an “open war” with Afghanistan’s Taliban government.
The latest escalation in violence follows months of {censored}-for-tat clashes over Islamabad’s accusation that Kabul harbours militants carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. But the issues between the two countries go back much farther in history.
Except for brief periods since 1947, Pakistan-Afghanistan ties have been marked by mutual distrust, rancour, recriminations, and hostility.
This negativity between Pakistan and Afghanistan has continued during both civilian and direct military rule in the former, and fundamental system transformations, turmoil and two failed superpower interventions in the latter— by the Soviet Union (1979-1989) and the United States (2001-2021). During both, Pakistan has helped the Afghan resistance.
Regime changes in Afghanistan
nist government till 1989, during which the state unsuccessfully sought to change society and polity. Thence came a three-year stretch of nationalist President Najibullah, whose rule collapsed in 1992. That led to nine years of civil war between the erstwhile Mujahideen and the Taliban, who emerged in 1994 and with Pakistan’s help swiftly took over large swathes of Afghan territory, including Kabul, in 1996.
The Taliban were ousted from Afghanistan into Pakistan in end-2001 through a US invasion because of the Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The US created an Islamic Afghan Republic, which failed to take root. On their part, US forces were unsuccessful in defeating the Taliban insurgency.
Accepting defeat, the US withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. The Taliban, again with Pakistan’s assistance, militarily defeated their Afghan opponents and this time became masters of all Afghanistan.
Story continues below.

Many outstanding issues
The issues that divide Afghanistan and Pakistan range from Afghanistan’s refusal to recognise the Durand Line as the international border, to control over transit and trade, and social contradictions despite the bonds of Islamic faith.
Afghans governments and peoples have the persistent resentment that Pakistan has insensitively tried to control and exploit them, especially since their monarchical system was overthrown.
Pakistan continues to consider Afghans ahsanfaramosh (ungrateful). For, they hosted millions of Afghan refugees and enabled Afghan insurgencies to defeat two super powers.

And, finally, the shadow of India has always loomed large over Afghan-Pakistan bilateral ties.

Durand Line​

For the Afghan Pashtun, the 2,640-km Durand Line is a historical wound. It derives its name from Sir Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India, who compelled Afghan ruler Amir Abdul Rehman Khan to accept a division of his territories in 1893. This also meant division of the Pashtun tribes who were till then his “subjects”.
In a recent thesis on the Durand Line, Afghan scholar Nabi Sahak correctly points out that “the original purpose of the Durand Line was to define a zone of British and Afghan spheres of influence… the line was not to create a permanent international border, unlike the current popular view dominant in Pakistan and the West”.
However, once demarcated, the British rulers of India considered it as a permanent international border. That is what Pakistan during its creation also contented. Afghanistan rejected that interpretation. Prior to Britain’s departure from India in 1947, Afghanistan urged it to relinquish the Durand Line Agreement. That would have meant that all the Pashtun lands ceded to British India would revert to Afghanistan, effectively making the Indus as the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The British refused to do so. Consequently, Afghanistan became the only country to oppose Pakistan’s entry into the UN.
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Daud Khan, cousin of King Zahir Shah and Prime Minister from 1953-63, supported the cause of Pashtunistan, which aimed to merge all Pakistan’s Pashtun lands with Afghanistan. Hostilities broke out between the two countries in 1961. Pakistan closed its land border with Afghanistan, causing shortages. This led to Afghanistan’s greater dependence on the Soviet Union, its other neighbour.
Daud deposed Zahir Shah and became President in 1973. He revived the idea of Pashtunistan but had to abandon it because of Pakistan fomenting trouble and again closing the border.
Also Read | The complex history of the Durand Line that divides Pakistan and Afghanistan
By 1976, Daud and Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had normalised bilateral ties, but like others before and after him, Daud did not accept the Durand Line as the international border.
Indeed, when Pakistan extinguished Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Tribal Agencies in 2018, then Afghan President Ashraf Ghani officially protested.
Trade and transit
Central Asian Republics, which were earlier part of the Soviet Union.
Of these, the Pakistan route is preferred. All Afghan governments want Pakistan to allow India-Afghan trade to move by road from Wagah to Afghanistan, but Pakistan has stubbornly refused Indian exports — and effectively, Indian aid — to go through this route. This has caused negative feelings in Afghanistan.
However, what causes greater anger is when Pakistan prevents goods from entering Afghanistan either through land routes from Pakistan or via the Karachi port.
Thus, Pakistan uses connectivity and transit as instruments of coercion.
Pashtun-Punjabi divide

There have been historical differences between the way of life of the Pashtuns and the people living south and east of the Indus river. It is true that the Pakistan state has co-opted many Pathans in its KP province and there are large Pathan populations—both of KP and of Afghan origin—especially in Karachi, but the differences have not been bridged.
The Pakistani Pathans, supported by their Afghan brethren, have considered the extinction of the Tribal Agencies as an insult to their way of life by the Punjab-dominated Pakistan state and army. That is one reason why the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is considered as kin by the Afghan Pashtuns. Today, this is the real bone of contention.
The ‘gratitude’ question
Pakistan feels that it hosted Afghan refugees and seven Mujahideen groups during the Afghan Jihad against the Soviets. But for this, Afghanistan would have come firmly under the Soviet heel.
It is also convinced that it was its help that enabled the Taliban to defeat the US. Hence, the feeling is that Afghanistan’s present rulers and people should be grateful to it.
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On the other hand, the Afghans are bitter about their treatment in Pakistan, and hold that Islamabad’s policies during these periods served its own interests. So, Pakistan’s demand for gratitude is misplaced.
The India angle
Pakistan has always feared being squeezed by India and Afghanistan simultaneously. They therefore want Kabul to limit its ties with India. But no Afghan government wants its foreign policy choices to be made in Islamabad. That is a source of permanent tension between the two countries.
Today, Pakistan is convinced that the Taliban are hurting Pakistan’s interests by opening up to India and that is, for them, unforgivable ingratitude. (Vivek Katju India’s EX Ambassador to Afghanistan.)

Feb 27, 2026 01:43 PM IST
Pakistan-Afghanistan War Live | Video: Pakistan launches Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghanistan, over 130 killed
Pakistan’s military Friday said it launched an operation named “Ghazab Lil Haq” in response to what it called unprovoked firing from across the border.
Afghanistan said its forces had carried out “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line.

Feb 27, 2026 01:16 PM IST. Pakistan bombs Taliban targets in Afghan cities, in what it calls an 'open war'
Pakistan bombed the Taliban regime targets in Afghanistan’s major cities overnight, officials from both countries said, with Pakistan’s defence minister describing the conflict as ‘open war,’ Dawn reported.

Feb 27, 2026 01:13 PM IST
Watch: Explosions, sound of aircraft heard in Kabul today, hours aftre Afghanistan attacks Pakistan's border posts
Pakistan’s defence minister has said the country is in “open war” with Afghanistan after fresh airstrikes and cross-border attacks between the two neighbours.
The escalation follows days of tension after Pakistani strikes inside Afghanistan and retaliatory action by Afghan forces along the disputed Durand Line.
Explosions and the sound of aircraft were heard in Kabul early Friday (Feb 27), hours after Afghanistan said it had launched attacks on Pakistani border posts
Pakistan’s defence minister has said the country is in “open war” with #Afghanistan after fresh airstrikes and cross-border attacks between the two neighbours.

The escalation follows days of tension after Pakistani strikes inside Afghanistan and retaliatory action by Afghan forces along the disputed Durand Line.

Explosions and the sound of aircraft were heard in Kabul early Friday (Feb 27), hours after Afghanistan said it had launched attacks on Pakistani border posts.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X: “Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you.”

Pakistan’s military said it launched an operation named “Ghazab Lil Haq” in response to what it called unprovoked firing from across the border.

Afghanistan said its forces had carried out “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line.