Pakistan defence minister declares “open war” with Afghan Taliban

• In retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes, the Taliban government launched a "large-scale" offensive along the Durand Line, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers and captured 15 Pakistani outposts, claims Pakistan has dismissed as "propaganda" while reporting it inflicted heavy casualties in return.
• The conflict intensified as a massive explosion rocked Kabul following the sound of jets and gunfire, marking the most significant escalation since a fragile October ceasefire.

A loud explosion rocked Kabul on Friday, AFP reporters in the Afghan capital said, hours after the Taliban government said it launched a border offensive against Pakistan.

The blast was heard after the sound of at least one jet over the city and was followed by successive rounds of gunfire.

Pakistan's defence minister declared "open war" on the Taliban government.

"Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you," Khawaja Asif posted on X.

A resident reported that up to eight explosions shook the city.

“The first two explosions were far from us, but the later ones were close and shook the house. Fighter jets could be heard after each blast,” the resident said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.

"Afghan Taliban defense targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia (province) and Kandahar," Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X after the strikes.

Afghanistan attacked Pakistani forces earlier on Thursday and said its troops have killed and captured dozens of soldiers, claims denied by the government in Islamabad.

The offensive at multiple points along the frontier follows a series of border clashes and Pakistani strikes on Afghanistan in recent months.

"In response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations," Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

The governor's office and residents in the province of Kunar said that military action was under way, while Afghan officials said armed forces were operating in multiple other provinces.

Pakistan said the attack was "being met with immediate, and effective response".

Afghanistan "opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations" across the border in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Islamabad's information ministry said.

The Taliban government spokesman told AFP that Afghan forces had captured more than 15 Pakistani outposts in two hours.

"Dozens of (Pakistani) soldiers have been killed and we have transferred 10 dead bodies to Kunar and other areas. There are also several wounded and caught alive," Mujahid said.

However, a spokesman for Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said there were "no Pakistani posts captured or damaged", adding its forces "inflicted heavy losses" across the border in retaliation.

An Afghan official reported multiple civilians wounded near the Torkham border crossing, at a camp for people returning from Pakistan.

"A mortar shell has hit the camp and unfortunately seven of our refugees have been wounded, and the condition of one woman is serious," said Qureshi Badlun, the information chief in Nangarhar province.

The border has largely been closed since fighting in October, although Afghan returnees have been allowed to cross.

Months of border violence

The military operation follows Pakistani strikes on Nangarhar and Paktika provinces overnight into Sunday, which the UN mission in Afghanistan said killed at least 13 civilians.

The Taliban government said at least 18 people were killed and denied Pakistan's announcement that the military operation left more than 80 militants dead.

Both sides also reported cross-border fire on Tuesday, but without casualties.

Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.

Several rounds of negotiations followed an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but the efforts have failed to produce a lasting agreement.

Saudi Arabia intervened this month, mediating the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.

Pakistan's military launched its air strikes on Afghanistan days ago following a series of deadly suicide blasts.

They included an attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 40 people and was claimed by Daesh.