Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have surged dramatically following reports that Afghan Taliban forces carried out armed drone strikes on major Pakistani military facilities. Among the targets was the Command and Control Centre at Nur Khan Air Base, a strategically significant installation in Rawalpindi.
The base holds particular importance as it had previously suffered damage during Operation Sindoor, a brief but intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025. Reconstruction efforts at the site were reportedly still ongoing when the latest attack occurred.
Taliban Claims Coordinated Drone Offensive
According to statements attributed to Afghanistan’s defence authorities, drone operations targeted multiple Pakistani military locations. Apart from Rawalpindi, strikes were said to have hit the 12th Division headquarters in Quetta and installations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Taliban officials described the attacks as “precise and coordinated aerial operations” aimed at key command centres. Pakistani authorities have not released a full damage assessment, but security has reportedly been tightened across several cantonment zones.
Fighter Jet Downed in Jalalabad
In a further escalation, Taliban representatives claimed that a Pakistani fighter jet was shot down over the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. According to local reports, the pilot ejected and was later detained after landing. Pakistan has yet to officially confirm the aircraft loss.
The alleged downing of the jet has added a new dimension to the conflict, signalling that hostilities have expanded beyond drone exchanges to direct aerial combat.
Pakistan Launches Airstrikes in Kabul and Kandahar
The confrontation intensified after Pakistan carried out air operations in Kabul and Kandahar, the latter being a stronghold of Taliban leadership. Pakistani officials stated that their strikes targeted militant positions and resulted in significant casualties among Taliban fighters.
Islamabad described the action as a response to earlier cross-border attacks. Taliban authorities, however, claimed that Pakistani operations triggered retaliatory strikes that led to heavy losses among Pakistani troops.
“Open War” Warning
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif publicly stated that the situation amounts to an “open war,” marking one of the most severe breakdowns in relations between the two neighbouring countries in recent years.
Security analysts warn that continued escalation could destabilize the broader region, particularly given the porous border and long-standing tensions along the Durand Line. Diplomatic channels appear strained, with no immediate signs of de-escalation.
