Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared on Friday that Pakistan has run out of patience and is in "open war" with Afghanistan.
An Afghan attack on Thursday evening that destroyed Pakistani border posts and key installations has triggered a sharp escalation, with Pakistan launching retaliatory airstrikes early Friday on major Afghan military facilities, according to military sources.
Asif posted Friday on X that Pakistan's "cup of patience has overflowed" and is now in "open war" with Afghanistan. "Now it is open war between us and you. We are your neighbors; we know your ins and outs," he wrote.
Earlier in the morning of Friday, Pakistan launched airstrikes on Afghan Taliban facilities, destroying key targets including a major ammunition depot, three Afghan battalions, and a sector headquarters in different areas of Afghanistan.
Pakistan conducted the air strikes as part of the Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (The Wrath of Justice) which was launched after the Afghan Taliban started attacks on Pakistani posts.
Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the strikes on social media platform X, saying Pakistani forces had hit targets in Kabul, southern Kandahar, and eastern Paktia province.
He added that extensive retaliatory operations were carried out against Pakistani military positions in Kandahar and Helmand.
Pakistan declares "open war" with Afghanistan after cross-border strikes
