Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes on suspected Taliban and militant positions in Afghanistan's eastern border provinces, claiming to have killed dozens as clashes intensified along the volatile frontier. The strikes occurred in areas including Khost and Kandahar, targeting military installations and equipment used for cross-border attacks, according to Pakistani officials.

The operation is part of a broader conflict that erupted on February 21, 2026, when Pakistan launched initial airstrikes on seven camps in Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces housing Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan militants. Islamabad justified the action as retaliation for terrorist attacks in Bajaur, Bannu, and Islamabad that killed dozens of Pakistani soldiers and civilians. Afghanistan's Taliban government condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, reporting civilian casualties, including 18 people, among them 11 children, in the initial raids.

Tensions quickly escalated into mutual airstrikes, artillery duels, and ground clashes across the 2,600-kilometer border. Pakistan declared an "open war" and initiated Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, expanding strikes to Kabul, Kandahar, and other provinces, destroying Taliban headquarters, depots, and vehicles. Pakistani officials reported over 600 Taliban fighters killed and hundreds of outposts neutralized by early March. The Taliban countered with attacks on Pakistani border posts, claiming to have killed more than 300 Pakistani soldiers and captured territory.

Casualty figures remain heavily disputed. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) verified at least 56 civilian deaths and 129 injuries from cross-border fire and airstrikes between February 26 and March 5, primarily in border provinces like Paktika, Khost, and Nangarhar. The UNHCR reported 115,000 people displaced in Afghanistan and 3,000 in Pakistan. Recent strikes on March 14 in Kandahar and Khost followed Taliban drone attacks on Pakistan, which wounded civilians, including children.

International actors have urged restraint. China mediated talks and supported Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts, while the UN, EU, and Russia called for a ceasefire. As of March 17, sporadic fighting persists along the border, with both sides vowing to continue operations until security concerns are addressed. Pakistan's military stated the latest strikes successfully hit drone facilities, but the Taliban described damage to civilian sites like a drug rehabilitation center.