Pakistan faced retaliatory strikes from Taliban forces Thursday after earlier airstrikes, threatening a 2025 ceasefire agreement according to officials.

Pakistan has declared an “open war” with the Taliban as it carried out overnight air strikes in several Afghan provinces, hitting multiple defence installations.

Pakistan-Afghanistan 'open war': Pak said Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban was launched after “unprovoked firing” from across the border.

Afghanistan launched a blistering attack on Pakistan’s military, describing it as a “mercenary in every war” and accusing it of targeting Afghan civilians to mask its own failures as cross-border tensions escalate in the region.

Afghanistan has no fighter jets and no real air force to speak of. It is known ⁠to possess at least six aircraft - some of them dating back again to the Soviet era - and 23 helicopters, although it is not possible to assess how many are in flying condition.

Pakistani and Afghan border forces clashed on Thursday night (February 26) after the Taliban launched what it called retaliatory strikes on Pakistani installations, sharply escalating tensions after days of cross-border hostilities.

Indian Army warns Pakistan of harsher response as Operation Sindoor 2.0 continues, highlighting extensive preparations and unwavering zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.