Pakistan–Taliban War Explodes After Ceasefire Collapse

Aerial view of Pakistani fighter jets conducting air strikes on Afghan border compounds with smoke plumes rising from destroyed structures, while civilians flee below. A burned "October Ceasefire" document lies in the foreground, symbolizing the broken truce between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Despite an October 2025 ceasefire, Pakistan carried out overnight air strikes last week on 7 alleged militant camps near the border. The Afghan Taliban said 18 people were killed, including women and children, and homes and a religious school were hit.

Afghan Taliban fighters advance at twilight toward Pakistani military positions, armed with rifles and RPGs, launching retaliatory operations across the border following earlier strikes. Toyota Hilux vehicles and Taliban flags visible in the mountainous terrain.

On Thursday at 20:00, the Afghan Taliban launched a large retaliatory attack on Pakistani military positions. Spokesman Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi said many Pakistani soldiers were killed and several border posts were captured after earlier strikes.

Nighttime explosions illuminate Kabul residential streets as Pakistani jets conduct counter-strikes on the Afghan capital. Civilians flee in panic amid destroyed buildings and rubble, with anti-aircraft fire visible against the dark sky.

Pakistan confirmed counter-strikes on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika early Friday. Blasts shook Kabul around 01:50 AM, with gunfire until 02:30. Defence Minister Khawaja M Asif declared “open war” against the Taliban government.

Split-panel comparison showing Pakistani military command claiming destruction of Taliban posts and tanks versus Taliban fighters celebrating capture of Pakistani border positions, with a central question mark highlighting unverifiable casualty claims from both sides.

Pakistan claimed 133 Taliban killed, 200+ wounded, 27 posts destroyed, and 80+ tanks and artillery eliminated. The Taliban claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers killed and 19 posts captured. These casualty numbers remain unverified from both sides.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif address the nation from an official podium, displaying unified resolve behind military operations against Afghanistan with national flags and military emblems in the background.

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the military’s strong response and warned peace should not be seen as weakness. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the whole nation supports the armed forces and vowed no compromise on sovereignty.

Former US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad monitors the escalating Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict on social media from his Washington office, displaying concern and frustration while calling for third-party diplomatic intervention to stop the violence.

Former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad called the escalation “a terrible dynamic” and urged a diplomatic agreement so neither side uses territory to threaten the other. He suggested Türkiye as a third-party monitor to help enforce peace.