Pakistan Security Forces & Afghan Taliban Fighters Exchange Fire After Airstrikes Deepen Tensions | Exclusive
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Last Updated:February 25, 2026, 00:01 IST
According to reports from the Tirah, Torkham, and Waziristan sectors, small-scale but fierce clashes have broken out
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Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have reached a critical flashpoint following a series of deadly Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, triggering intense exchanges of fire across multiple sectors of the Durand Line, CNN-News18 has learnt. According to reports from the Tirah, Torkham, and Waziristan sectors, small-scale but fierce clashes broke out as Afghan Taliban fighters retaliated against what they termed a “blatant violation of sovereignty". The escalation follows an air operation conducted by the Pakistan Air Force on February 22, which targeted alleged militant hideouts in the Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.
Islamabad has maintained a firm position on the Durand Line, asserting its right to self-defence following a surge in terror attacks on its soil. Pakistani officials stated that the “intelligence-based, selective operations" were aimed at neutralising seven camps belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP). These strikes were reportedly a direct response to a devastating suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad earlier this month, which claimed over 30 lives. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban-led administration of providing safe havens to TTP leadership, a claim that Kabul continues to deny.
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The humanitarian cost of the strikes has further deepened the diplomatic chasm. Afghan authorities reported that at least 18 people, including women and children, were killed when the bombs struck residential areas and a religious seminary. In the Behsud district of Nangarhar, residents described scenes of devastation as rescuers searched for survivors beneath the rubble of destroyed homes. The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence condemned the act as a breach of international law and warned that Afghanistan would deliver a “calculated and appropriate response" in due course.
As ground forces on both sides remain on high alert, the situation along the border remains highly volatile. Pakistan has reinforced its positions to target infiltration attempts and prevent militants from crossing into its territory. However, the recurring violence highlights the failure of previous ceasefire agreements, including a Qatar-brokered truce from late 2025. With both nations refusing to back down and the historical dispute over the Durand Line’s legitimacy looming in the background, the region faces the grim prospect of a sustained cross-border conflict that threatens broader South Asian stability.
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