Pakistan Bombs Kabul: Taliban Says Ready to Talk as “Open War” Breaks Out

By America News World | February 28, 2026

Pakistan and Afghanistan at War: What Is Happening?

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A Taliban soldier stands next to an anti-aircraft gun while on lookout for Pakistani fighter jets, in Khost province, Afghanistan [File: Reuters]

A major military conflict has exploded between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan launched powerful air strikes on the Afghan capital Kabul, the city of Kandahar, and several other cities on Friday. The strikes caused massive destruction and left civilians dead and wounded.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made a shocking announcement. He posted on social media platform X: “Now it is open war between us and you.” He called the situation an “all-out confrontation” with the Taliban government of Afghanistan.

This is the most serious military clash between the two neighboring countries in years. The world is watching closely — and millions are asking: Could this turn into a full-scale war?

Taliban Responds: We Want Dialogue

Despite the bombing, Afghanistan’s Taliban government said it is ready to sit down and talk.

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Taliban leaders are willing to negotiate with Pakistan to stop the violence. “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.

This is a significant statement. Even as bombs were falling on Afghan cities, the Taliban reached out with an offer for peace talks. Experts say this shows the Taliban understands it cannot afford a long and costly war with Pakistan.

How Did This War Start?

The conflict did not begin overnight. Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been growing for months. Here is a simple timeline:

**October 2025: Deadly border fighting killed more than 70 people on both sides. Land border crossings were largely shut down after this violence.

Early 2026: Several rounds of peace talks took place. Qatar and Turkey helped broker a ceasefire. Saudi Arabia also stepped in to help free three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan. However, no lasting peace deal was reached.

**Last Weekend:** Pakistan launched air strikes on Afghan territory. This was the trigger for the latest, most dangerous round of fighting.

**Thursday Night:** Afghanistan responded with drone strikes on Pakistani military positions in northwest Pakistan along their shared border.

**Friday:** Pakistan escalated further, striking Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, and Laghman. Afghan forces also reported 19 civilians were killed and 26 others injured in the strikes on Khost and Paktika.

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## The Casualties: Both Sides Claim Big Losses

The death toll is rising fast — but the two sides are telling very different stories.

**Pakistan’s military says:** At least 274 Afghan forces and fighters were killed, and more than 400 wounded. On the Pakistani side, 12 soldiers were killed, 27 wounded, and one is missing.

**Afghanistan’s Taliban says:** Pakistan’s numbers are “false.” They claim 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, with 23 bodies brought into Afghanistan. They also say “many” Pakistani soldiers were captured. On their side, 13 Afghan soldiers and 13 civilians were wounded.

The numbers from both sides have not been independently confirmed.

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## Why Is Pakistan Attacking Afghanistan?

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of allowing terrorists — specifically fighters from the Pakistani Taliban — to shelter inside Afghan territory and launch deadly attacks into Pakistan. Afghanistan denies this accusation.

This dispute has poisoned relations between the two countries for years. Now, it has exploded into open military conflict.

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## What Do Experts Say? Can This Become a Full-Scale War?

Analysts warn that a full-scale war between Pakistan and Afghanistan would be extremely dangerous — and very difficult for Pakistan to sustain.

Abdul Sayed, a conflict analyst based in Sweden, told media that deep historical and tribal ties between the peoples of both countries make it nearly impossible for Pakistan to fight a long war. Millions of people from the same tribes live on both sides of the border.

“Despite its substantial military capabilities, Pakistan cannot sustain the large-scale bloodshed that an armed conflict with Afghanistan would entail,” Sayed warned.

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## The World Reacts

World leaders and international organizations are alarmed.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “deeply concerned by the escalation of violence” and its impact on civilians. Russia, Iran, and Iraq have all called for an immediate end to the fighting.

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## What Happens Next?

The situation is changing by the hour. The Taliban has offered talks. Pakistan has declared open war. Civilians on both sides are suffering.

The next 48 to 72 hours will be critical. Will Pakistan agree to negotiations? Will the bombing stop? Or will this conflict grow into something far more dangerous?

**America News World will continue to update this story as it develops. Bookmark this page and share it with friends and family to stay informed.**