The Taliban called for peace talks with Pakistan last night after cities in Afghanistan came under aerial attack.
The regime, which toppled the Western-backed government five years ago, requested dialogue after Kabul and Kandahar were bombed in what Pakistan declared as ‘open war’.
Officials in Islamabad said the operation was ‘ongoing’ as it claimed to have killed at least 274 Taliban members.
Fighting in border regions between Taliban and Pakistani forces has resulted in hundreds of casualties in recent weeks.
The countries have endured a fractious relationship over recent decades with Pakistan previously providing sanctuary for Taliban leaders who attacked Western troops.
The strikes by Pakistan were the first time it has directly engaged Afghanistan. The attacks were in response to Taliban incursions into its territory.
Last night the situation was described as ‘open war’ with plumes of black smoke rising from buildings in Kabul.
According to Pakistan, the targets were Taliban military buildings, including an ammunition depot.
Unconfirmed footage appeared to show large explosions in Afghanistan on February 27
An injured Pakistani girl being treated for her wounds at a hospital in Bajaur, Pakistan following overnight cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Taliban security personnel operating an anti-aircraft gun and watching for Pakistani air strikes
Missiles were dropped from aircraft seen in the skyline over the Afghan capital.
Qatar is expected to mediate between the Afghan and Pakistani governments in a bid to find a resolution to the conflict.
Taliban foreign minister Amir Muttaqi said: ‘Afghanistan has never been a supporter of violence and has always preferred to resolve issues based on mutual understanding and respect.
‘However, this approach will be effective only if the other party demonstrates a practical and sincere willingness to find solutions.’
The Taliban has used drones to attack targets inside Pakistan.
According to unconfirmed reports clashes have resulted in approaching 300 killed and wounded across both sides.
Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 1,615-mile border which is effectively porous and crossed by smugglers and jihadist fighters.
Pakistan threatened the Taliban last night, with defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif saying ‘our cup of patience has overflowed’, adding ‘now it is open war between us and you’.
Afghan Taliban fighters patrol near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Thursday, which saw large scale cross-border fighting
Pakistani news channels broadcast footage of major explosions in Afghanistan
He threatened that any further attacks by the Taliban would result in a ‘measured, decisive and befitting response’.
Pakistan is nuclear-armed and its military capabilities are vastly superior to Afghanistan.
However, the Taliban are adept at guerrilla warfare, hardened by decades of fighting UK and international forces.
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, surprising the West with the speed of military operations to depose the country’s democratic government.
Yesterday, ambulance sirens could be heard in Kabul and the sound of Pakistani jets.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that Pakistani forces carried out air strikes on parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia on Thursday night, and on Paktia, Paktika, Khost, and Laghman on Friday.
Pakistan has been on high security alert since it launched air strikes earlier this week that Islamabad said targeted camps of Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State militants in eastern Afghanistan.
Kabul and the United Nations said the strikes killed 13 civilians and the Taliban warned there would be a strong response.
The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province said it was on high alert for militant attacks on Friday and had conducted a series of security operations, taking 90 Afghan nationals to holding centres for deportation.
