Fierce fighting erupts between Pakistan and Afghanistan; Afghan forces shoot down Pakistani aircraft attempting to carry out airstrikes.

New Delhi. The conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified. The Pakistani army carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, prompting the Taliban to launch a major attack on border posts. The retaliatory fire from both sides has escalated tensions, and the Qatar-brokered ceasefire is in jeopardy. President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to protect the country, while the Taliban warned of a strong response.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari says he will not compromise on the unity and peace of his country’s region. Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has warned of a strong retaliation.

The Afghan Defense Ministry reported that on the night of February 26, Pakistani forces carried out attacks in Afghan territory that killed women and children. According to the ministry, Afghan forces retaliated in Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar, and Nuristan provinces, pushing back Pakistani troops. Two military bases and 19 posts were captured in the fighting, and Pakistani troops fled from four posts.

The conflict between the two countries has jeopardized the Qatar-brokered ceasefire and is raising concerns among the international community.

What is the Durand Line, the disputed border between Pakistan and Afghanistan?
The Durand Line is a disputed border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stretching approximately 2,640 kilometers long. This border was established in 1893 by an agreement between Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India, and Abdur Rahman Khan, Amir of Afghanistan. Its purpose was to create a protective buffer zone between the British and Russian empires. However, Afghanistan never fully accepted this border, as it divided Afghanistan’s major Pashtun tribes into two parts.

The dispute escalated after the formation of Pakistan in 1947. Afghanistan demanded the return of its Pashtun-majority areas and a separate state called “Pashtunistan,” a demand Pakistan has consistently rejected. The Taliban government also refuses to recognize the Durand Line as an official international border and opposes Pakistan’s border fence.