Pakistan launched a direct military offensive against Afghanistan’s Taliban government on February 27, declaring the two countries are now in an “open war” after escalating cross-border tensions The operation, named Ghazab lil-Haq (“Righteous Fury”), involved strikes on targets in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika, marking a significant strategic shift and the first time Pakistan has directly targeted the Afghan Taliban regime
Islamabad stated the operation was a response to “unprovoked firing” from Taliban forces across the border Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, announced the major policy change, stating, “Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us” This move signals a departure from Pakistan's previous policy, which focused on targeting hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) rather than the Afghan Taliban government itself The strikes on Kandahar are particularly notable, as the province is the base for the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada
This escalation represents a complete breakdown in relations between the former allies. Following the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021, Pakistan had expressed hope that the Taliban would help promote regional stability However, persistent security issues, which Islamabad attributes to TTP militants operating from Afghan soil, have strained the relationship to a breaking point. The direct military confrontation threatens to further destabilize an already volatile region and carries significant implications for the future of South Asian security and counter-terrorism alliances.
Mohsin Rana
