Afghanistan launches military strikes on Pakistan in retaliation for earlier airstrikes

Afghanistan's military launched an attack on Thursday (February 26, 2026) on Pakistan to retaliate for Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas earlier in the week, claiming to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts in the latest escalation of violence between the volatile neighbours.

Pakistan's government, which had described Sunday's airstrikes as an attack on militants harboured in the area, confirmed clashes were taking place on Thursday (February 26, 2026) along the border but dismissed claims that army posts had been captured. It called Afghanistan's attacks on Thursday unprovoked.

Afghanistan's military corps in the east said in a statement that “heavy clashes” had begun Thursday night “in response to the recent airstrikes carried out by Pakistani forces" in eastern Afghanistan.