Why are Afghanistan and Pakistan fighting?

Residents of Kabul's District 6 were jolted awake by an explosion on Thursday night, marking a significant escalation in hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The conflict saw Pakistan launching airstrikes in Afghanistan, including in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar provinces. This violence is part of ongoing tensions that have persisted for months, with each side blaming the other for initiating aggression.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan claims that its recent ground operations against Pakistani military positions were retaliatory, following what it describes as Pakistani incursions into Afghan territory that resulted in civilian casualties. These operations reportedly led to the capture and killing of Pakistani soldiers. The Taliban's actions were in response to Pakistani airstrikes less than a week earlier, which targeted Nangarhar and Paktika provinces and allegedly resulted in the deaths of 13 Afghan civilians, according to the United Nations.

Conversely, Pakistan maintains that its airstrikes are aimed at militant hideouts in Afghanistan, specifically those of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses of orchestrating attacks within Pakistan, including a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad. Pakistan alleges that the TTP's activities are supported by the Taliban government in Afghanistan, a claim the Taliban denies, asserting that its territory is not used to threaten other countries.

The last major flare-up between the two nations occurred in October 2025, involving cross-border strikes and airstrikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan. Mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey led to a fragile ceasefire, but diplomatic efforts have not resolved the underlying tensions. Both countries accuse each other of not taking diplomacy seriously.

Militarily, Pakistan holds a significant advantage with its advanced defense capabilities. In contrast, the Taliban government relies on military equipment left by former Afghan and foreign forces and has reportedly acquired some through the black market. Despite this, the Taliban's experience in guerrilla warfare is well-documented, and they have recently used drones to strike targets in Pakistan, indicating a shift in the conflict's dynamics.

The lack of verified information from either side complicates assessments of the conflict's trajectory. The Taliban government restricts foreign journalist access, and verifying reports from border areas is challenging. Similarly, obtaining independent information from Pakistan's border regions is difficult.

Trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been halted since October 2025, the longest closure in decades, impacting small businesses and the availability of essential supplies in Afghanistan. For many Afghans, already struggling with hunger and poverty under the Taliban's stringent rule, the recent violence has shattered a brief period of relative security following decades of war.