Multiple explosions shook the Afghan capital, Kabul, and several other regions early Friday morning as Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged military strikes across their volatile border, accusing each other of escalating the conflict.
Islamabad launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (“Wrath of Justice”) hours after Afghan forces conducted cross-border attacks against Pakistani military positions. Residents of the Afghan capital reported hearing at least three blasts, but authorities have not confirmed the precise locations of the explosions.
PAF has struck Taliban HQ in Khost, Afghanistan 🚀 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/Mn5nG326VE
— Pakistan Strategic Forum (@ForumStrategic) February 27, 2026
“The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X.
Pakistani state broadcaster PTV News shared several videos of the strikes, saying the military targeted “important military installations.”
🚨BREAKING: Pakistan Army secures another key post in the Shawal Valley, proudly raising the national flag. pic.twitter.com/2OeWiCUVtN
— The Daily CPEC (@TheDailyCPEC) February 27, 2026
A Pakistani security source told local media that an ammunition depot, battalion positions, and a sector headquarters were destroyed.
Islamabad said the strikes came after Afghan Taliban forces opened fire on its border positions late Thursday, killing two Pakistani soldiers and wounding three others.
Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said the forces of the Islamic Republic killed dozens of Afghan fighters and destroyed several military posts and armored vehicles in “retaliatory” operations.
Pakistan’s airstrike destroys the logistics headquarters of the Afghan Taliban regime in Kandahar 💥 pic.twitter.com/3RMJmj0uvA
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) February 27, 2026
Afghan authorities, however, said their military offensive on Thursday was itself a response to earlier Pakistani air raids conducted last week.
Afghanistan’s military claimed it captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts and inflicted heavy casualties in “large-scale offensive operations” across several border provinces.
Pakistani officials described the Afghan attack as unprovoked and denied losing any positions, accusing the neighbor of targeting civilians.
“The cowardly enemy struck in the darkness of night. The Afghan Taliban made a despicable attempt to target innocent civilians,” Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on X, promising “serious consequences.”
