Pakistan-Afghanistan 'open war' highlights: Over 400 Afghan Taliban soldiers killed, says Pak minister as operation 'still continuing'

• March 01, 2026 20:07 Over 80 Pakistani soldiers: Afghanistan's spokespersonAfghanistan’s deputy spokesperson Fitrat said more than 80 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 military posts captured.The Afghan government earlier put the death toll among its troops at 13.Casualty claims from both sides are difficult to verify independently.AFP Afghanistan’s deputy spokesperson Fitrat said more than 80 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 27 military posts captured. The Afghan government earlier put the death toll among its troops at 13. Casualty claims from both sides are difficult to verify independently. • March 01, 2026 19:41 Over 400 Afghan Taliban soldiers killed: Pakistan's Information MinisterPakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said 46 locations across Afghanistan had been hit by air strikes since its operation began. Pakistan has killed 415 Afghan soldiers, the minister said. Islamabad said earlier 12 of its soldiers had been killed. This comes after another minister announced that the operation against the Afghan Taliban was continuing, refuting social media reports about the conclusion of the blitz.AFP Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said 46 locations across Afghanistan had been hit by air strikes since its operation began. Pakistan has killed 415 Afghan soldiers, the minister said. Islamabad said earlier 12 of its soldiers had been killed. This comes after another minister announced that the operation against the Afghan Taliban was continuing, refuting social media reports about the conclusion of the blitz. • March 01, 2026 19:24 Afghanistan warns Iran-Israel conflict will impact whole regionAfghanistan said that the war in neighbouring Iran would negatively impact the whole region and expressed “deep regret” over the violence flaring in multiple countries.The Iranian flag was lowered to half-mast at the country’s embassy in Kabul, an AFP journalist said, and a black cloth hung over the entrance following the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli attack.“The recent political and security developments in the region have created unprecedented tensions that will have long-term negative effects on the entire region,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on X.“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its deep regret over the attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States, and expanded by Iran to target the Gulf countries,” he added.Iran shares a more than 900-kilometre (560-mile) border with Afghanistan and the countries have considerable economic ties. Afghanistan said that the war in neighbouring Iran would negatively impact the whole region and expressed “deep regret” over the violence flaring in multiple countries. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-mast at the country’s embassy in Kabul, an AFP journalist said, and a black cloth hung over the entrance following the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli attack. “The recent political and security developments in the region have created unprecedented tensions that will have long-term negative effects on the entire region,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on X. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its deep regret over the attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States, and expanded by Iran to target the Gulf countries,” he added. Iran shares a more than 900-kilometre (560-mile) border with Afghanistan and the countries have considerable economic ties. • March 01, 2026 18:33 Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif was due to travel to Russia from March 3 to 5Pakistan PM cancels trip to Russia over regional clashesPakistan's Prime Minister cancels Russia trip due to escalating regional conflicts and internal unrest, according to official statement. ### Pakistan PM cancels trip to Russia over regional clashes Pakistan's Prime Minister cancels Russia trip due to escalating regional conflicts and internal unrest, according to official statement. • March 01, 2026 17:44 Pakistan PM postpones trip to Russia over regional clashes Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cancelled on Sunday (March 1) a trip to Russia in the coming days, citing the “regional and internal situation”.Mr. Sharif was due to travel to Russia from March 3 to 5, it had been reported in Russian media.“In view of the current regional and internal situation, the prime minister has decided to postpone his visit to Russia after consultations,” Mr. Sharif’s office said in a statement. A new date will be decided after “mutual consultations”, the statement added.AFP Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cancelled on Sunday (March 1) a trip to Russia in the coming days, citing the “regional and internal situation”. Mr. Sharif was due to travel to Russia from March 3 to 5, it had been reported in Russian media. “In view of the current regional and internal situation, the prime minister has decided to postpone his visit to Russia after consultations,” Mr. Sharif’s office said in a statement. A new date will be decided after “mutual consultations”, the statement added. • March 01, 2026 17:07 Afghanistan says it thwarted a Pakistani airstrike attempt on Bagram Air BaseAfghanistan said it had thwarted attempted airstrikes on Bagram Air Base, the former U.S. military base north of Kabul, while cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan stretched into a fourth day.On Sunday (March 1), the police headquarters of Parwan province, where Bagram is located, said in a statement that several Pakistani military jets had entered Afghan airspace “and attempted to bomb Bagram Air Base” at around 5 a.m. The statement said Afghan forces responded with “anti-aircraft and missile defence systems” and had managed to thwart the attack.There was no immediate response to the claim from Pakistan.AP Afghanistan said it had thwarted attempted airstrikes on Bagram Air Base, the former U.S. military base north of Kabul, while cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan stretched into a fourth day. On Sunday (March 1), the police headquarters of Parwan province, where Bagram is located, said in a statement that several Pakistani military jets had entered Afghan airspace “and attempted to bomb Bagram Air Base” at around 5 a.m. The statement said Afghan forces responded with “anti-aircraft and missile defence systems” and had managed to thwart the attack. There was no immediate response to the claim from Pakistan. • March 01, 2026 16:51 Death toll update: 10 killed as protesters try to storm U.S. Consulate in Pakistan's KarachiAt least 10 people were killed, and several were injured on Sunday (March 1) after clashes broke out between police and protesters as they tried to storm the gates of the U.S. Consulate in Pakistan’s Karachi.The clashes broke out following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli air strike.Dr. Sumaiya Syed, Police Surgeon, Sindh, said so far 10 bodies have been brought to the Civil Hospital, and some appeared to have bullet wounds. PTI At least 10 people were killed, and several were injured on Sunday (March 1) after clashes broke out between police and protesters as they tried to storm the gates of the U.S. Consulate in Pakistan’s Karachi. The clashes broke out following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli air strike. Dr. Sumaiya Syed, Police Surgeon, Sindh, said so far 10 bodies have been brought to the Civil Hospital, and some appeared to have bullet wounds. • March 01, 2026 14:47 Afghan, Pakistani forces battle along the border Afghan and Pakistani troops battled along their border, Afghan residents and officials told AFP on Sunday (February 1, 2026), with the fighting coming alongside multiple strikes, including the former U.S. air base at Bagram.Residents in multiple areas bordering Pakistan told AFP of overnight fighting, while two civilians were killed in drone strikes, according to the Nangarhar Province information.- AFP Afghan and Pakistani troops battled along their border, Afghan residents and officials told AFP on Sunday (February 1, 2026), with the fighting coming alongside multiple strikes, including the former U.S. air base at Bagram. Residents in multiple areas bordering Pakistan told AFP of overnight fighting, while two civilians were killed in drone strikes, according to the Nangarhar Province information. • March 01, 2026 12:59 At least 6 killed as Shias storm U.S. Consulate in PakistanMeanwhile, at least six people were killed in clashes with police on Sunday (March 1, 2026) after hundreds of protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, authorities said.Police and paramilitary forces used batons and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, said Mohammad Jawad, a police official. The attack on the consulate came hours after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack carried out by Israel and the United States.- AP Meanwhile, at least six people were killed in clashes with police on Sunday (March 1, 2026) after hundreds of protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, authorities said. Police and paramilitary forces used batons and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, said Mohammad Jawad, a police official. The attack on the consulate came hours after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack carried out by Israel and the United States. • March 01, 2026 11:59 Operation against Afghan Taliban still continuing: Pak Minister A Pakistani Minister on Sunday (March 1) announced that the operation against the Afghan Taliban was continuing, refuting social media reports about the conclusion of the blitz.Federal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry refuted reports that Pakistan halted its operations, saying that “false and fabricated news is being spread on social media that Pakistan has stopped its operations against Afghanistan”.“The reality is the opposite. In view of the current regional situation, the sharing of PAF and drone footage with the media has been temporarily suspended. The purpose of this decision is to safeguard national security and operational strategy, not to prevent operations,” he wrote on X.-PTI A Pakistani Minister on Sunday (March 1) announced that the operation against the Afghan Taliban was continuing, refuting social media reports about the conclusion of the blitz. Federal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry refuted reports that Pakistan halted its operations, saying that “false and fabricated news is being spread on social media that Pakistan has stopped its operations against Afghanistan”. “The reality is the opposite. In view of the current regional situation, the sharing of PAF and drone footage with the media has been temporarily suspended. The purpose of this decision is to safeguard national security and operational strategy, not to prevent operations,” he wrote on X. • March 01, 2026 11:32 Anti-aircraft fire is being directed at Pakistani aircraft in Kabul: Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid • March 01, 2026 11:28 Explosion, gunfire as Afghan forces shoot at aircraft over KabulAn explosion followed by successive gunfire was heard in Central Kabul on Sunday (March 1), AFP journalists reported, with the Taliban government saying Afghan forces were shooting at a fresh incursion by Pakistani aircraft.“Anti-aircraft fire is being directed at Pakistani aircraft in Kabul,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Sunday (March 1), referring to guns being fired overhead.-AFPBlasts heard in Kabul amid clashes between Afghanistan, Pakistani forcesClashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces escalate in Kabul, with blasts reported amid ongoing violence and air defence operations. An explosion followed by successive gunfire was heard in Central Kabul on Sunday (March 1), AFP journalists reported, with the Taliban government saying Afghan forces were shooting at a fresh incursion by Pakistani aircraft. “Anti-aircraft fire is being directed at Pakistani aircraft in Kabul,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Sunday (March 1), referring to guns being fired overhead. ### Blasts heard in Kabul amid clashes between Afghanistan, Pakistani forces Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces escalate in Kabul, with blasts reported amid ongoing violence and air defence operations. Published - March 01, 2026 11:32 am IST ### Related Topics Live news / Afghanistan / Pakistan / unrest, conflicts and war / war