‘Operation Ghazab lil Haq’ Pakistan declares open-war against Afghanistan

Pakistan, on Friday post-midnight, 27 February 2026, launched operation ‘Ghazab lil Haq’, killing 133 Afghan soldiers and leaving over 200 injured. The attack was caused by an air-strike in the Afghan capital Kabul, along with the provinces of Kandahar and Paktia, allegedly destroying two brigade bases.

The Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Asif, declared ‘open war’ against the neighbouring country, Afghanistan. ‘Operation Ghazab lil Haq’ was launched by Pakistan late Thursday night and continued post midnight (27 February 2026). This step was in retaliation for the Afghanistan attack on Pakistan. On Thursday, 26 February 2026, Afghanistan attacked Pakistan along the Durand Line, claiming control over 2 bases and 19 posts.

“Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries. It engaged in full-fledged diplomacy. But the Taliban became a proxy for India…,” said Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on X.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said that Afghanistan had attacked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors, claiming it as “Unprovoked firing!”

The flare-up follows Pakistani strikes on camps linked to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP). However, Kabul denies allowing militants to use its territory. These cross-border attacks make the Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shaky.

The tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been in the news since 2021, but the real cross-border firings and airstrikes began in October 2025, with both sides taking turns on each other until now, when Pakistan declared ‘Open-War’ against the Taliban-ruled.