Afghan officials stated on Sunday that they intercepted attempted airstrikes on Bagram Air Base by Pakistani military jets. This incident occurred amid ongoing cross-border conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has escalated over the past four days.
The clashes are reportedly the most intense between the nations in years. Pakistan has labeled the situation as an ‘open war’ with Afghanistan, raising international concerns, particularly due to the presence of militant groups—such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group—in the area.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban-led Afghan government of sheltering militant groups that carry out attacks against it and alleges Afghanistan collaborates with India, its adversary.
Previous border skirmishes occurred in October, resulting in numerous casualties, including soldiers, civilians, and militants. A ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, provided temporary relief. However, subsequent peace talks in November in Turkey failed to achieve a long-term resolution.
On Sunday, Parwan province’s police headquarters stated that Afghan forces used ‘anti-aircraft and missile defense systems’ to thwart an attempt by Pakistani jets to bomb Bagram Air Base at about 5 a.m. There has been no immediate response from Pakistan’s military or government regarding the airstrike claims.
Bagram Air Base, once the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, was overtaken by the Taliban in 2021 following the U.S. withdrawal. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously expressed interest in re-establishing a presence there.
Current hostilities reportedly began with a cross-border attack launched by Afghanistan on Thursday night, claimed to be a retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes targeting the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Afghanistan stated those strikes resulted in civilian casualties.
The TTP operates within Pakistan and is blamed for numerous attacks over the years. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring the TTP, a claim Afghanistan denies.
Following the Thursday assault, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif stated, ‘our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us.’
In recent exchanges, both sides report high enemy losses. Pakistan claims it controls a key Afghan post and surrounding areas in the Zhob sector near Kandahar, though Afghan officials dismiss these assertions as ‘baseless.’
Fighting is said to have continued overnight, with Afghan officials reporting the use of anti-aircraft missiles against Pakistani jets in Nangarhar province. The Defense Ministry indicated counterattacks were conducted from several Afghan provinces, resulting in downed drones and Pakistani casualties.
Afghan officials also reported Pakistani drone attacks on civilian homes, resulting in deaths in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces. Pakistani authorities have not responded to these claims.
