Pakistan Declares War on Afghanistan: "Patience Has Run Out"

In recent days, the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has escalated into open violence, with air raids and armed clashes causing casualties and further destabilizing an already fragile region. For weeks, Islamabad and Kabul have exchanged mutual accusations of provocations and support for irregular armed groups, but the latest escalation has surpassed all previous limits.

According to the Pakistani government, the armed forces have launched airstrikes against targets in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul and the provinces of Paktia and Kandahar, killing over 130 Taliban fighters and injuring hundreds. Images of the explosions serve as a stark reminder of how easily power rhetoric can translate into real destruction on the ground.

The Pakistani Defense Minister declared that “patience has run out” and spoke of a situation of “open war” with Afghanistan, pointing the finger at the current Taliban government in Kabul for turning the country into a refuge for militias and rebels targeting Pakistan.

Behind these loud statements, however, are families, streets, schools, and lives shattered by the conflict. The attacks do not happen in a vacuum: many civilians have been killed or injured in the raids and counterattacks. It is a tragedy often overlooked in official narratives, while leaders on both sides exchange blame and justifications.

The Taliban government has responded to the attacks with its own military operations and accusations against Islamabad, claiming that it has violated Afghan sovereignty under the pretext of fighting armed groups. But the reality is that the Afghan people are paying the highest price for a policy that continues to sacrifice collective well-being on the altar of regional rivalries.

The tension does not arise out of nowhere. In recent years, extremist groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have intensified attacks along the border, and Islamabad accuses Kabul of not doing enough to counter them. On the other side, the Taliban have exploited the country’s fragilities and the absence of stable institutions to consolidate their power, often ignoring the humanitarian consequences of their actions.

War should not be an occasion to legitimize authoritarian governments or armed movements that have shown they prioritize ideology over people’s well-being. The international community must insist on an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and a return to political dialogue, rather than allowing violence to unfold on the brink of a broader humanitarian crisis.

Klevis Gjoka