Pakistan's Khawaja Asif declares 'open war' with Afghan Taliban: 'Now it will be Dama Dam Mast Qalandar'

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif AFP

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif has declared an “open war” on the Taliban government on Friday after both sides clashed.

Asif said that after the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was expected that there would be peace in Afghanistan and that the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and peace in the region. "They gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women," he said.

"Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar'. Pakistan's army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbours; we know your ins and outs. Allahu Akbar," the minister added.

The announcement followed strikes by Pakistani forces on what officials claimed were Afghan Taliban defence sites in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia province.

"Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia (province) and Kandahar," Pakistani information minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X.

Pakistan said its “armed forces have given a befitting response” to Afghan Taliban, AFP reported.

"Pakistan's armed forces have given a befitting response to the Afghan Taliban's open aggression," said Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, hours after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops in what the Taliban government said was retaliation for earlier deadly air strikes.

The relationship between the neighbours has worsened significantly, with border points mostly shut since October’s clashes killed upwards of 70 people on both sides.

Islamabad maintains that Afghanistan has not curbed militant outfits targeting Pakistan, an assertion the Taliban administration disputes. Despite several rounds of dialogue after a ceasefire facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, no permanent agreement has been reached.

The Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday.

In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 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 read.

The ministry said that Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern directions along the Durand Line, near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.

"In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured," the statement said.