Pakistan has declared “open war” against Afghanistan and has launched airstrikes on its capital city Kabul.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said early Friday the country had made every effort to avoid conflict.
“Our patience has run out. Now there is an open war,” said the minister.
In response, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said: “The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.”
It comes as yesterday Pakistan’s security forces responded to an attack on multiple points along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.
Pakistani troops were said to have delivered an “immediate and effective response”, inflicting multiple casualties and destroying multiple posts and equipment.
The Taliban claimed to have killed 40 Pakistani soldiers in the clash, with Pakistan claiming it had killed 22 Taliban personnel and shot down several quadcopters.
Mujahid said yesterday Afghanistan would be willing to target Pakistan’s “key centres and important cities” if there were attacks against Kabul or other major cities.
