Finance
Afghanistan fires at Pakistani jets over Kabul as conflict intensifies
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 1, 2026
Quick Summary
Afghanistan’s Taliban administration reported that its air defenses fired at Pakistani jets over Kabul amid escalating cross‑border strikes, following Pakistani air attacks earlier this week targeting alleged militant hideouts. Regional powers have called for urgent mediation as both sides intensify
Afghanistan Responds to Pakistani Airstrikes as Kabul Faces Rising Conflict
Escalating Tensions and Regional Instability
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar
KABUL, March 1 (Reuters) - Afghanistan said it was firing at Pakistani jets in Kabul after blasts and gunfire rocked the capital on Sunday, compounding instability in a region rattled by U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on U.S. targets in Gulf states.
The Taliban-ruled state has suffered Pakistani strikes against government installations over the past week following accusations, which it denies, that it harbours militants.
The heaviest fighting in years between the neighbours has raised fears of a protracted conflict along their 2,600-km (1,615-mile) border, with several countries including Qatar and Saudi Arabia calling for restraint and offering to help mediate a ceasefire.
Recent Events in Kabul
Explosions echoed across parts of Kabul before sunrise, followed by bursts of gunfire, a Reuters witness said. It was not clear what had been targeted or whether there were casualties.
Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the sounds were the result of Afghan forces targeting Pakistani aircraft over the capital.
"Air defence attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft. Kabul residents should not be concerned," Mujahid said.
Pakistan's prime minister's office, information ministry and military did not respond to requests for comment.
Background of the Airstrikes
The violence follows air strikes inside Afghanistan this week that Pakistan said targeted militant infrastructure. Afghanistan described the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and announced retaliatory operations along their shared border.
Iran, which shares borders with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, had offered to help facilitate dialogue before itself coming under attack on Saturday from Israel and the U.S. bent on diminishing Iran's military capability.
Accusations and Escalation
Claims of Militant Harboring
Pakistan has said Afghanistan harbours Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, which it said are waging an insurgency inside Pakistan.
Afghanistan has denied the accusation, saying it does not allow Afghan territory to be used against other countries and that Pakistan's security challenges are an internal matter.
Military Operations and Casualties
Pakistani security sources have said operation "Ghazab Lil Haq", meaning "Wrath for the Truth", was ongoing and that Pakistani forces had destroyed Afghan posts and camps.
Both sides have reported heavy losses, issuing differing casualty figures for each other.
Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
International Response and Diplomatic Efforts
Diplomatic efforts have intensified, with Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, the European Union and United Nations urging restraint and calling for talks.
The U.S. said it supports Pakistan's right to defend itself.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described the fighting as "open war".
Afghanistan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said the conflict would be "very costly". He said only front-line forces were engaged in fighting that the country has yet to fully deploy its military.
(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Rajveer Singh Pardesi in Bengaluru; Writing by Ariba Shahid; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Saad Sayeed)
Key Takeaways
- •On March 1, 2026, explosions and gunfire rocked Kabul before sunrise, with Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stating Afghan forces engaged Pakistani aircraft in the capital’s airspace (apnews.com).
- •The clashes follow Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan military and civilian targets in recent days, including Kabul, Kandahar, and eastern provinces—strikes that Kabul condemned as violations of sovereignty (theguardian.com).
- •In retaliation, Afghanistan launched drone and border attacks, reportedly downing a Pakistani jet over Jalalabad and capturing its pilot, prompting Pakistan’s defense minister to declare the situation an “open war” (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
- •Casualty reports vary significantly: Pakistan claims over 300 Afghan fighters killed and hundreds wounded in recent air raids; Afghanistan reports Pakistani casualties including soldiers killed or captured, though figures are disputed (apnews.com).
- •Multiple countries and organizations—including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, the EU, United Nations, Iran, Turkey, and the U.S.—have urged restraint, offered mediation, and emphasized the protection of civilians amid fears of region‑wide destabilization (apnews.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Afghanistan fires at Pakistani jets over Kabul as conflict intensifies
1Why did Afghanistan fire at Pakistani jets over Kabul?
Afghan forces targeted Pakistani aircraft following airstrikes by Pakistan amid escalating border tensions.
2What triggered the latest conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan?
The conflict escalated after Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harboring militants and launched strikes against suspected targets.
3How has the international community responded to the conflict?
Countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, the EU, and the UN have called for restraint and offered to mediate ceasefires.
4What are the main accusations between Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants attacking Pakistan, while Afghanistan denies these claims.
5How could this conflict impact regional stability?
Continued violence could destabilize the region, with implications for security and international diplomatic efforts.
