Violence has once again broken out between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Islamabad declaring "open war [8]" on Kabul. Late on Feb. 26, Afghan forces fired on military bases across the border in Pakistan, reportedly using drones [9]. Pakistan retaliated early overnight on Feb. 27, bombing what it said were military and infrastructure targets in Kabul and several border provinces. Afghanistan's Islamic Emirate government said its attacks were a response to Pakistani airstrikes on Feb. 21 and 22 that reportedly killed [10] at least 13 civilians in Nangarhar province. Pakistan accuses the Taliban-led government of harboring fighters from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP [11])—accused of being behind recent attacks [12] in Islamabad and Peshawar [13]. Afghan Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani said the "doors for dialogue [14]" remain open but insisted that if Afghanistan continues to be attacked, it will respond. Iran, a mutual neighbor, has offered to mediate [16] between the two sides. Türkiye and Qatar helped to forge a fragile ceasefire after a previous flare-up in October.
From JURIST [17], Feb. 27
