Pakistan-Afghanistan War: At least 133 Taliban fighters killed, 200 more injured

Pakistan-Afghanistan War: Pakistan’s retaliatory operation Ghazab Lil Haq began on Thursday (February 26, 2026) night. According to Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, at least 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 were injured.

Pakistan launched what it called ‘Operation Ghazab lil Haq’ late on Thursday night after the Afghan Taliban attacked several border posts. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the operation was underway, saying that the armed forces were currently responding strongly to the Afghan Taliban offensive.

Briefing about the operation, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that at least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and more than 200 people were injured.

“Afghan Taliban defense targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar were targeted, with the possibility of more casualties,” he said, adding that at least 27 posts of the Afghan Taliban regime were destroyed and nine other posts were captured.

Later, in a post on X, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif made a strong statement declaring ‘open war’ against Afghanistan, accusing Islamabad of losing its patience and the Taliban-led regime of harboring militants.

“Our patience has run out. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be ‘Dama Dam Mast Qalandar’. Pakistan’s army did not come from across the sea. We are your neighbours; we know you inside and out. Allahu Akbar,” said Pakistan’s defence minister.

The escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul over cross-border security concerns along the Durand Line, a border drawn by the British in the 19th century that remains a point of contention between the two countries.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defense said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a retaliatory operation along the Durand Line on Thursday. The ministry said in a press release that the operation was launched at 8:00 pm on Ramadan 9, corresponding to February 26, in response to the violation carried out by Pakistani military forces on Afghan territory a few days ago.

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