Lagatar24 Desk
Islamabad: Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated sharply after the Taliban claimed it shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet for allegedly violating Afghan airspace. Meanwhile, Pakistan announced the launch of “Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq,” carrying out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and other locations.
Taliban’s Claim Of Downing F-16
According to reports cited by Afghan media outlet Tolo News, the fighter jet entered Afghan airspace and was subsequently shot down. Images and videos of a burning aircraft wreckage have surfaced on social media, with claims that it shows the downed Pakistani F-16. However, these visuals have not been independently verified, and Pakistan has not issued any official confirmation regarding the alleged downing of its aircraft.
Pakistan Announces Military Operation
Pakistan has declared what it termed an “open war” and initiated Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq. As per PTV News, Pakistani forces launched early-morning airstrikes targeting military installations in Kabul, Kandahar and other areas.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif posted on X that the country’s “patience has ended,” calling the situation an open conflict. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari also stated that Pakistan would not compromise on peace or its territorial integrity.
Pakistani officials claimed that more than 130 Taliban fighters were killed in the strikes and asserted that their armed forces are fully capable of neutralizing threats from Afghanistan.
Border Clashes Along Durand Line
Reports indicate that under Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, attacks were conducted in the Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry had claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action along the Durand Line on Thursday. The 2,500-km-long border remains a long-standing point of dispute, as Afghanistan has never formally recognized the Durand Line as an international boundary.
With both sides issuing conflicting casualty figures and strong statements, the situation along the frontier remains volatile and highly sensitive.
