SUNTV GLOBAL CHANNEL — INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A major military escalation has erupted in South Asia after Pakistan launched widespread airstrikes across Afghanistan early Friday, targeting multiple cities including the capital, Kabul.
Residents reported powerful explosions shaking the city at dawn, with thick smoke seen rising from several locations, sparking panic among civilians.
According to military sources, Pakistani forces also struck strategic areas in Kandahar and Paktia. Islamabad said the attacks were aimed at Taliban military infrastructure.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, publicly described the situation as an “open war” between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government — marking the most severe breakdown in relations between the two neighbours in years.
The escalation followed earlier claims from Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who stated that Afghan forces had begun “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani troops along the disputed Durand Line border.
The conflict comes after weeks of mounting border clashes, with both nations accusing each other of sheltering militant groups responsible for cross-border attacks.
The United Nations expressed deep concern, urging both sides to de-escalate immediately and protect civilians. UN officials warned that continued fighting could lead to severe humanitarian consequences.
Regional powers also stepped in diplomatically:
- Iran called for urgent negotiations and offered to mediate peace talks.
- Russia urged both nations to halt hostilities and pursue diplomatic solutions.
Threat of Wider Instability
Security analysts warn that if the conflict expands, it could destabilise the wider South and Central Asian region — potentially disrupting trade routes, triggering refugee flows, and creating opportunities for extremist groups to exploit the crisis.
With Pakistan now openly declaring war and heavy fighting ongoing along the border, international pressure is mounting to prevent the situation from spiralling into a full-scale regional conflict.
