ANI
Kabul, Updated At: 08:27 AM Feb 27, 2026 IST
The Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday.
The 2,611 km border between the two countries has never been officially recognised by Afghanistan. In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8 pm on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier.
“A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here,” the statement said.
Afghan forces, the ministry said, targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern directions along the Durand Line near Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces. “In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured,” the statement added.
The ministry claimed the four-hour operation destroyed two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, caused soldiers to flee from four other posts, destroyed an enemy tank and captured a large military transport vehicle. Dozens of light and heavy weapons, ammunition and military supplies were reportedly seized.
Afghan casualties included eight fighters killed and 11 injured. The ministry also alleged that 13 civilians were injured in a missile attack on a refugee camp in Nangarhar. “In this retaliatory operation, eight of our Mujahideen achieved the high status of martyrdom, and 11 were injured,” it said.
In response, Pakistan launched the “Ghazab Lil Haq” operation targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, ARY News reported. Pakistan’s prime ministerial spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi, cited by Geo News, said 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and more than 200 wounded; operations have destroyed 27 Taliban posts and captured nine.
Pakistani security forces reportedly carried out retaliatory operations across multiple border areas, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur districts, destroying several Taliban posts, ARY News said. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, adding there were no reported casualties. He posted: “The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties.”
