Pakistan Declares Open War as Operation Righteous Fury Targets Taliban Leadership Across Afghanistan

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif launches Operation Righteous Fury after deadly border clashes, marking a major escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 28, 2026, 9:52 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CNN

A Decisive Shift Toward Full Scale Military Confrontation

The long standing and volatile border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan has escalated into a state of active warfare following a series of deadly exchanges. Islamabad’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, formally declared that the nation’s patience with the Taliban-led government has reached its limit, describing the current situation as an open war. This declaration follows a night of intense shelling and mortar fire initiated by Afghan forces along the 1,600 mile frontier. The transition from intermittent skirmishes to a broader military campaign reflects a fundamental breakdown in the security relationship between the two neighbors, as Pakistan moves to utilize its sophisticated defense apparatus against a battle hardened insurgency that recently reclaimed power in Kabul.

Strategic Retaliation Through Operation Righteous Fury

In immediate response to Afghan provocations, the Pakistani military initiated a comprehensive campaign known as Operation Ghazab Lil Haqq, or Righteous Fury. This operation involved targeted airstrikes across several Afghan provinces, including the capital city of Kabul and the southern stronghold of Kandahar. These strikes represent a significant expansion of Pakistan's military strategy, moving beyond border defense to target central defense facilities and areas associated with the Taliban’s top leadership. While the Taliban reported significant civilian casualties, including women and children, Pakistani military spokesmen claimed the successful destruction of over 70 Taliban posts. The scale of these strikes indicates a high level of preparedness and a willingness by Islamabad to project power deep into Afghan territory.

The Fracturing of a Complex Historical Alliance

The current hostilities mark a dramatic reversal of the historical ties that once linked Pakistan’s security establishment to the Afghan Taliban. For decades, Pakistan provided essential support and sanctuary to Taliban fighters during their insurgency against international forces. However, since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Islamabad has seen a sharp increase in domestic terrorism, which it attributes to the Pakistani Taliban operating from within Afghan borders. Defense Minister Asif characterized this shift as a direct blowback from previous policies, accusing the regime in Kabul of...