Pakistan Strikes Afghan Capital After 'Unprovoked' Attacks, Taliban Claims Retaliation Amid Reports Of Heavy Casualties
I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul and border areas, claiming self-defense against Taliban attacks. The strikes were described as a response to 'unprovoked' assaults on Pakistani positions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed support for the military's actions, promising a 'befitting reply' to aggression. In retaliation, the Taliban launched operations against Pakistani military posts, claiming to have captured 19 posts and killed 55 soldiers. Pakistan refuted these claims, stating that their strikes resulted in 133 Taliban casualties and the destruction of multiple posts.
Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, and other locations as fighting flared along the countries' rugged border, prompting dueling claims of heavy casualties and captured outposts from Islamabad and Afghanistan's Taliban-led government.
Pakistan Says Strikes Followed ‘Unprovoked’ Border Attacks
Pakistan's government described the strikes and subsequent cross-border fire as a response to what it called "unprovoked" Taliban attacks on Pakistani positions. In statements posted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Islamabad said its troops delivered an "immediate and effective response" across multiple sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, naming Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur, and reporting damage to Afghan posts and equipment.
Afghan Taliban regime unprovoked action along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border given an immediate, and effective response.
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) February 26, 2026
Afghan Taliban miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations across Pakistan Afghanistan border in KP which is being met with immediate, and…
Sharif Vows ‘Befitting Reply’ To Aggression
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in posts carried on the Pakistani government's X account that the country "stands by Pakistani armed forces" and that the military is "fully capable of thwarting any aggressive intentions." He said Pakistan would not compromise on defending the country and would respond to any attack with a “befitting reply.”
"ہماری افواج کسی بھی جارحانہ عزائم کو خاک میں ملانے کی بھرپور صلاحیت رکھتی ہیں۔"
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 27, 2026
~وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف pic.twitter.com/mlmFN7dJqp
Taliban Claims Retaliation, Seizures Along Durand Line
Afghanistan's Taliban authorities, who lack broad international recognition, said they launched "large-scale offensive operations" against Pakistani military positions and installations along the disputed Durand Line in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the Taliban began the operation "in response to repeated provocations and violations by Pakistani military circles."
وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) February 26, 2026
ردًّا على حالات التمرد والاعتداءات المتكررة من قبل الدوائر العسكرية الباكستانية، بدأت عمليات هجومية واسعة على مراكز الجيش الباكستاني ومنشآته العسكرية على امتداد خط ديورند.
اللهم انصر المجاهدين في كل مكان!
The media office of Afghanistan's military corps in the east said "heavy clashes" began late Thursday, linking the fighting to earlier Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Paktia provinces. The Taliban defense ministry claimed it captured 19 Pakistani military posts and two bases Thursday night and said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed.
Update on the situation at the Pakistan Afghanistan border as of 0345 hrs Friday February 27
— Mosharraf Zaidi 🇵🇰 (@mosharrafzaidi) February 26, 2026
Pakistani counter strikes against targets in Afghanistan continue.
A total of 133 Afghan Taliban are confirmed killed, more than 200 wounded. Many more casualties estimated in strikes…
Pakistan denied that Taliban forces captured or damaged any outposts. Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Sharif, said Pakistan's continuing response had killed 133 Taliban members and wounded more than 200, while destroying 27 Taliban posts and capturing nine.
Image via Shutterstock/ AlexandrinaZ