Pakistan, Afghanistan Trade Claims Of Heavy Casualties, Destroyed Bases Amid Military Escalation

Last Updated:February 27, 2026, 08:17 IST

Amid the heavy fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, both sides have claimed major military gains, heavy casualties and destruction of key installations.

A massive escalation has unfolded along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, with both sides claiming heavy battlefield losses, cross-border strikes and the destruction of key military installations.

The confrontation, described as one of the most intense episodes of fighting in recent years, involves airstrikes, artillery exchanges and ground assaults across multiple sectors along the disputed Durand Line, with both governments issuing sharply conflicting claims about casualties and territorial gains.

PAF STRIKES AFGHANISTAN, MULTIPLE INSTALLATIONS TARGETED – PAKISTAN CLAIMS

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets carried out strikes deep inside Afghanistan, targeting locations in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Paktia.

Pakistani authorities claimed the attacks destroyed ammunition depots and several Afghan military installations.

Pakistan further asserted that its forces eliminated 133 Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters during overnight clashes.

Officials also claimed that two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sectors and nearly 80 Afghan artillery tanks were destroyed during the operation.

The Pakistan Army additionally claimed that 27 Afghan Taliban posts were destroyed, while nine positions were captured during ground engagements.

Islamabad described the offensive as part of a large-scale military campaign titled ‘Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq’, launched following what it termed a renewed wave of terrorism inside Pakistan.

AFGHAN TALIBAN CLAIM HEAVY LOSSES ON PAKISTAN SIDE

Afghan Taliban authorities issued a contrasting account, claiming their fighters inflicted major damage on Pakistani forces along the border.

Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said 55 Pakistani security personnel were killed, while 17 were taken hostage during the clashes.

Taliban officials also claimed that 23 bodies of Pakistani soldiers were taken into custody.

The Taliban further alleged that their fighters destroyed two Pakistani Frontier Corps headquarters and captured 19 outposts, while seizing weapons and military equipment from Pakistani troops, visuals of which were circulating publicly.

Afghan officials maintained that their military had launched coordinated attacks across the Durand Line after Pakistani actions earlier triggered the escalation.

FIGHTING ACROSS MULTIPLE BORDER PROVINCES

The main battle zones stretched across a vast geography.

On the Afghan side, fighting was reported in Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces, while clashes on the Pakistani side spread across Khyber, Bajaur, Shawal, Waziristan, Khurram, Mohmand, Chitral, Angoor Adda and Torkham, along with other sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan.

Local sources claimed that 36 civilians were killed due to cross-border mortar shelling affecting villages on both sides.

Both governments said damage assessments were still underway.

WAR OF WORDS ESCALATES BETWEEN ISLAMABAD AND KABUL

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed a strong response, stating that there would be “no compromise on the defence of the beloved homeland" and that any aggression would receive a befitting reply.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Atta Tarar said the country’s security forces had once again demonstrated their capability, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the Afghan Taliban regime of making a “terrible mistake."

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid warned that Afghanistan would seek revenge and indicated that the conflict could continue, with sources in Kabul claiming retaliatory measures were being prepared against Pakistani military installations along the border.

The latest violence threatens a fragile Qatar-mediated ceasefire that had largely held despite months of tensions and intermittent exchanges of fire.

News world Pakistan, Afghanistan Trade Claims Of Heavy Casualties, Destroyed Bases Amid Military Escalation

Read More