Pakistan’s Defense Ministry said on Friday that the country now considers itself in an “open war” with Afghanistan after the two countries carried out cross-border strikes Thursday night.

Pakistan launched overnight airstrikes on targets in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika hours after Afghan Taliban forces attacked Pakistani military posts along the border. Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, said the strikes marked a turning point in the conflict, declaring that Pakistan’s “patience has now run out” and warning that further attacks would be met with force. He stated on X:

Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries. It engaged in full-fledged diplomacy… In the past, Pakistan’s role has been positive. It has hosted 5 million Afghans for 50 years. Even today, millions of Afghans are earning their livelihood on our soil. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you.

Pakistan’s military said Afghan forces opened fire across the border into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late Thursday, prompting what it called a “crushing response.” The Taliban’s Ministry of National Defense stated in a press release that “a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured.” A Pakistani military spokesman said the country’s forces struck 22 Afghan military targets, killing at least 274 Taliban officials and militants, while at least 12 Pakistani soldiers have been killed since Thursday night.

The Taliban further said they carried out airstrikes against targets inside Pakistan on Friday morning. Pakistan claimed it had successfully thwarted these over Swabi, Nowshera and Abbottabad through its anti-drone systems.

Both governments framed their actions as defensive. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the armed forces had the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions. He further said that there would be “no compromise” on defending national sovereignty. The Taliban, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of striking civilian areas, including a refugee camp in Nangarhar Province, an allegation Pakistan has not confirmed.

International actors have moved quickly to urge restraint. These include Iran, China, Russia (the only country officially recognizing the Taliban-controlled government of Afghanistan), and the UK. The UN has also appealed for de-escalation, while further condemning harsh “apartheid” edicts issued by the Taliban against women and girls. Pakistan’s foreign minister held calls with counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, while Afghanistan’s foreign affairs minister held calls with Qatar and Turkey regarding the situation.

The fighting represents the most serious breakdown in relations between the two neighbors since an immediate ceasefire agreed in October 2025. That ceasefire was intended to halt months of low-intensity clashes, but ultimately collapsed, with both sides blaming each other.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that any further provocation by the Taliban “will be met with a measured, decisive and befitting response.”