Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities entered its fifth day on March 3, 2026, after Pakistani airstrikes in late February targeted alleged militant hideouts. Afghan Taliban forces responded with retaliatory attacks around February 26–27, sparking clashes across several border points.
Pakistan said Taliban fighters attacked at least 16 military posts, reporting 67 Afghan troops killed in one day and hundreds more since the escalation. Afghanistan’s Taliban government rejected the claims, saying it repelled the attacks and inflicted heavier losses on Pakistani forces, while reporting far lower casualties on its own side.
Clashes have been reported at dozens of locations along the border. Pakistan has declared an “open war” and carried out strikes on sites including Bagram air base, Kabul and Kandahar. The violence is the worst since October, and casualty figures from both sides remain unverified and sharply disputed.
Civilian casualties mounts
The humanitarian impact has intensified as fighting spreads. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported at least 42 civilians killed and 104 wounded — including women and children — between February 26 and March 2 due to indirect fire and cross-border clashes.
The World Food Programme estimated that approximately 20,000 families have been displaced, worsening Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian conditions. UNAMA called for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged both sides to protect civilians.
The reasons of the conflict
At the heart of the escalation is Pakistan’s long-standing accusation that Afghanistan harbors militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who allegedly launch attacks inside Pakistani territory. Islamabad says the recent airstrikes targeted TTP hideouts.
Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities deny providing sanctuary to the group and maintain that they will not allow Afghan soil to be used against neighboring countries. The dispute over militant safe havens, coupled with failed peace talks in Turkey last November, has deepened mistrust and contributed to the current outbreak of violence.
