Afghanistan, February 27, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated sharply, with both sides making serious military claims amid reports of intense cross-border fighting.
According to Afghan media outlet TOLOnews, Afghan forces shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet that allegedly violated Afghan airspace. Videos circulating on social media show burning debris of an aircraft. Another video claims that a Pakistani soldier has been captured.
Earlier on Friday, Pakistan reportedly carried out heavy airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika. Pakistani security officials claimed that two Afghan Army brigade headquarters were destroyed in the strikes. At least three major explosions were heard in Kabul, creating panic among residents.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry described its military response as retaliation for attacks carried out on Sunday. Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces destroyed 19 Pakistani checkposts and two military bases. He further claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the ground clashes and several others were captured alive. Afghanistan has also launched a large-scale offensive operation near the Durand Line.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar rejected Afghanistan’s claims. He said only two Pakistani soldiers were killed and alleged that 133 Afghan fighters died and more than 200 were injured in Pakistan’s counter-attack. Pakistan stated that it responded firmly to what it described as unprovoked Afghan aggression.
Amid the ongoing shelling along the border, civilians have also been affected. A missile reportedly hit an Afghan refugee camp near the Torkham border, injuring 13 civilians, including women and children.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has urged both countries to ensure civilian safety and resolve the dispute through diplomatic means.
The root of the conflict lies in the 2,611-kilometre-long Durand Line, a boundary that Afghanistan does not formally recognise. Recent tensions over attacks by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have further strained relations, and a ceasefire mediated by Qatar now appears to have collapsed.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.