{"id":"f-80ae245e0c-58ee1a1d-ffbb-515e-938f-8b1c816569b7","title":"Pakistan Suffers Heavy Casualties As Afghanistan Launches Large-Scale Offensive Operations Along Durand Line","description":"Afghan Taliban forces launched coordinated attacks using artillery and infantry on Pakistani checkposts in response to Islamabad's airstrikes on February 22.","timestamp":1772168459,"category":"international","headline":"Pakistan Suffers Heavy Casualties As Afghanistan Launches Large-Scale Offensive Operations Along Durand Line","modifiedHeadline":"Afghanistan retaliates after Pakistani airstrikes","subCategories":["scid_afe28127"],"subcategoriesName":["International Political News"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"c80449a0-0ad6-472b-8d17-5747dd8f5c83","bundleTitle":"Around the globe","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"389","fcSummary":"afghanistan launched a large-scale offensive against pakistan in retaliation for recent airstrikes. fighting erupted along the disputed durand line, with both sides claiming casualties and capturing military posts. pakistan asserts afghanistan initiated \"unprovoked\" fire, while afghanistan condemns pakistan's actions as a breach of international law. the conflict risks further escalation.","summary":"Afghanistan launched an offensive against Pakistan by targeting its military facilities in retaliation for Islamabad’s airstrikes on February 22.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/news/IN/en/news18/f-80ae245e0c-58ee1a1d-ffbb-515e-938f-8b1c816569b7","sourceUrl":"https://www.news18.com/world/pakistan-suffers-heavy-casualties-as-afghan-taliban-fighters-target-security-checkpoints-ws-l-9932180.html","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/RgDGtOp12Yo0.webp","content":"

Afghanistan on Thursday launched a large-scale offensive against Pakistan by targeting its military facilities in retaliation for Islamabad’s airstrikes on February 22. Tensions flared along the Pakistan-Afghanistan

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border on Thursday as heavy fighting erupted between Pakistani security forces and Afghan fighters along the disputed Durand Line in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district.

Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed on X that Kabul had launched a large-scale retaliatory offensive against Pakistan by targeting its military checkpoints. “In response to repeated insurrections and insurrections by Pakistan’s military circles, extensive offensive operations were launched on Pakistani army centres and military facilities along the Durand Line,” he said.

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“In response to its rebellion and repeated acts of defiance by the special military clique of Pakistan, extensive offensive operations against the centres and military facilities of Pakistani forces along the Durand Line have commenced,” he said.

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وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ
\n پاکستانی فوجی حلقوں کی جانب سے بار بار سرحدی تجاوز اور سرکشی کے ردِعمل میں، ڈیورنڈ لائن پر پاکستانی فوج کے مراکز اور عسکری تنصیبات پر وسیع پیمانے پر اقدامی کارروائیاں شروع کر دی گئیں۔
\n اللهم انصرالمجاهدین في کل مکان! pic.twitter.com/6IhqSeCpbe
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— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) February 26, 2026
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The Taliban government said it had killed and captured multiple Pakistani soldiers in the border offensive.

Security sources told CNN-News18 that Afghan Taliban forces launched coordinated attacks using artillery and infantry on Pakistani checkposts in the Maro Sar and Shahkot Sar areas near Zakha Khel market, which have reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on Pakistan.

At least nine Pakistani troops are believed to be severely wounded in the Afghan attack on security checkpoints, with sources predicting that the conflict may escalate further. Mujahid said Afghan forces captured at least 15 Pakistani check posts in Goshta, Nangarhar, and Kunar provinces.

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This came after Pakistani security forces launched massive strikes against Afghan Taliban checkposts along the Durand Line earlier this week, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. Sources confirmed that at least 28 TTP fighters were killed in the strikes, which were conducted across eastern and southeastern Afghanistan.

ALSO READ: Massive Strikes By Pakistan On Afghan Checkposts As Border Conflict Escalates | Exclusive Details

Pakistan Takes ‘Immediate Action’

Intense heavy weapons fire is also ongoing in Mohmand (Torkhel and Gursal), Chitral (Arandu), and parts of Kurram district along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Sources reported that people in Kurram are also participating in Pakistan’s retaliatory action against the Afghan Taliban.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan said it had taken “immediate” action against Afghanistan after its neighbour launched “unprovoked” strikes. Afghanistan “opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations” across the border in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Islamabad’s information ministry said on X, adding it was “being met with immediate and effective response”.

The spokesperson for the Khalid bin Walid 201st Corps announced that clashes involving Afghan border security forces in the eastern provinces have begun and are ongoing in response to airstrikes by the Pakistani military. Afghan forces have also launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani militia posts across various areas of the Durand Line in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

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This surge in violence follows a series of Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, triggering retaliatory fire from Afghan Taliban fighters across the Tirah, Torkham, and Waziristan sectors. Islamabad has long vowed action against a sharp increase in terror attacks originating from Afghan soil.

Pakistani Airstrikes On Afghanistan

The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has condemned the ongoing actions as a breach of international law, warning of a “calculated and appropriate response”.

“Attacks on civilian targets and religious centres are clear evidence of the Pakistani army’s intelligence and security failures, and such repeated aggressions will never conceal their internal shortcomings,” it said in a post on X.

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“Pakistan has violated Afghan airspace,” a source told CNN-News18, stressing that the Taliban “has the right to retaliate.” While no immediate response has been announced, the leadership indicated that retaliation remains on the table. “We will strike back at the perfect time,” the source said.

On the other hand, Pakistan said it had “conclusive evidence” linking the attacks to militants operating from Afghan territory and reiterated that it had repeatedly urged Afghan authorities to prevent such groups from using its soil, while maintaining that it remains committed to peace and stability.

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Pakistan Suffers Heavy Casualties As Afghanistan Launches Large-Scale Offensive Operations Along Durand Line

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