Violence has once again broken out between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Islamabad declaring "open war [10]" on Kabul. Late on Feb. 26, Afghan forces fired on military bases across the border in Pakistan, reportedly using drones [11]. 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 [12] at least 13 civilians in Nangarhar province. Pakistan accuses the Taliban-led government of harboring fighters from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP [13])—accused of being behind recent attacks [14] in Islamabad and Peshawar [15]. Afghan Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani said the "doors for dialogue [16]" remain open but insisted that if Afghanistan continues to be attacked, it will respond. Iran, a mutual neighbor, has offered to mediate [18] between the two sides. Türkiye and Qatar helped to forge a fragile ceasefire after a previous flare-up in October.
From The New Humanitarian [19], Feb. 27. Internal links added.
