Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry announced that 12 soldiers have been killed and 27 others injured in recent military operations. He shared the information during a press conference held in Islamabad on Friday, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

Chaudhry stated that the army continues its operations amid the current security situation and that the injured personnel are receiving medical treatment. The ISPR did not disclose further details about the nature or location of the operations.

The announcement highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by Pakistan’s armed forces, though no additional information on the broader context or timeline of the operations was provided in the briefing.

Tensions have intensified along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as both sides reported heavy losses following recent clashes. On Thursday, Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Taliban forces attacked and captured several Pakistani border posts, killing security personnel. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denied the Taliban’s claims, asserting that Pakistani forces had effectively responded and killed 36 Taliban fighters, while confirming the deaths of two Pakistani soldiers.

The renewed violence follows Pakistan’s February 21 airstrikes in Afghanistan targeting militant hideouts, which Islamabad said killed more than 80 fighters. The Taliban’s interim defense ministry condemned those strikes and warned of a future response. Analysts cited in the report said a full-scale conventional war remains unlikely due to the Taliban’s limited air and logistical capabilities. Experts also noted that the Taliban’s arsenal includes weapons left by former Afghan and foreign forces, but their air power remains weak.

Security analysts observed that the Taliban continue to rely on guerrilla tactics, using light weapons and improvised explosives, while Pakistan maintains a conventional army with superior air capabilities.

The United States has instructed its citizens to leave Israel immediately amid growing fears of a possible Iranian attack. The directive, issued by the US State Department on Friday, also advised against traveling to Israel at this time. Citizens were told to plan their departure while commercial flights remain available, according to The Guardian.

The order follows inconclusive talks between Iran and the United States held in Geneva, Switzerland, where no clear resolution was reached. Washington and Tehran are expected to resume discussions next week. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has deployed two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, and several dozen fighter jets to the Middle East, raising concerns that a military strike could follow if negotiations fail.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has informed embassy staff that those wishing to leave should do so immediately. The United States has also demanded that Iran completely halt its nuclear activities and dismantle its three main nuclear facilities.

Pakistan’s defense minister has declared a ‘direct war’ against Afghanistan following airstrikes carried out by the Pakistani military in Kabul and two other provinces. The announcement marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two neighboring countries.

Afghanistan affairs expert Amin Saikal told BBC’s Newsday program that this represents a very serious development, indicating Islamabad’s intent to punish the Afghan Taliban for allegedly supporting armed groups behind recent attacks in Pakistan. Saikal, founder of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, noted that both sides have long been at odds, but Pakistan’s latest move shows it is striking harder in response to Taliban support for Pakistani militants.

Saikal, author of “Modern Afghanistan,” warned that the rising tension could be disastrous for the Afghan people, who are already struggling with severe economic hardship.

Reports from multiple Afghan provinces indicate that no major clashes occurred overnight along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, though sporadic shelling and gunfire were heard in some areas. BBC correspondent Hefzullah Maruf said that in Kunar province’s border districts of Shultan, Dangam, and Nari, both sides occasionally fired artillery shells at each other. Civilian and Taliban casualties were reported, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed.

In Nangarhar province, no direct fighting was observed, but intermittent gunfire occurred near the Torkham crossing. Refugees were evacuated from a large temporary camp near the border due to fear of renewed conflict. Many families attempting to return to Afghanistan through Torkham reportedly turned back amid the tension. In Khost, Paktia, and Paktika provinces, sources described sporadic exchanges of fire despite the absence of full-scale battles.

Another source claimed that Pakistan carried out an airstrike in Paktika’s Sarobi district, though the Taliban government has not issued any official statement regarding the incident.

China has advised its citizens to leave Iran as security risks in the Middle East escalate. In a social media statement on Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Chinese nationals in Iran to strengthen safety measures and prepare to depart the country as soon as possible. The ministry also advised against traveling to Iran under current conditions. Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighboring countries will assist citizens in relocating via commercial flights or land routes.

Additionally, Chinese citizens in Israel have been instructed to remain on high alert. State broadcaster CCTV reported that they were advised to avoid unnecessary outings and to familiarize themselves with nearby bomb shelters and evacuation routes. On the same day, the United States authorized the withdrawal of non-essential embassy staff from Israel as Washington reinforced its military presence in the region, including the expected arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford near Israel’s coast.

Despite mediation efforts between Iran and the United States through Oman, hopes for easing tensions remain uncertain.

Pakistan’s military said it has killed 274 Taliban and other armed group members in Afghanistan under an operation named “Ghazab-lil-Haq.” The announcement came from Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during a press briefing on Friday. He stated that Pakistan’s forces destroyed 73 Taliban military posts, captured 18, and destroyed 115 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery weapons.

The operation followed a deadly cross-border attack late Thursday night, when Afghan forces reportedly killed at least 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured several others at a post near the Durand Line in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attack was in retaliation for Pakistan’s February 21 airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces, which killed more than 80 people.

Pakistan launched its counteroffensive at 3:45 a.m. Friday, conducting extensive airstrikes in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar as part of the ongoing operation.

Pakistan launched airstrikes early Friday on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika in Afghanistan, prompting retaliatory attacks by the Taliban. Islamabad declared it was now in an 'open war' with Afghanistan’s Taliban government, while Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces were conducting large-scale operations along the Durand Line in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes.

The United Nations expressed deep concern over escalating violence and urged both sides to uphold international law and protect civilians. Iran offered to mediate, reaffirming its support for dialogue between Kabul and Islamabad. Russia called for an end to cross-border attacks and emphasized diplomatic solutions. India condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes, while Turkey, Qatar, China, and the United Kingdom all pressed for de-escalation and dialogue. Pakistan’s defense minister blamed the Taliban for instability, asserting that the country’s patience had run out. Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai vowed national unity in defending Afghanistan.

The continued fighting and international appeals highlight fears of a broader regional crisis if hostilities persist without diplomatic resolution.

India has issued a strong condemnation of Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan. On Friday, February 27, 2026, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India denounces Pakistan’s actions on Afghan soil. In a post on social media platform X, he said the attacks, carried out during the holy month of Ramadan, caused the deaths of many civilians, including women and children.

Reaffirming India’s stance on Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, Jaiswal accused Pakistan of shifting blame for its internal problems onto other countries. He described the airstrikes as part of that pattern and reiterated India’s unwavering support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and regional integrity.

According to the report, the strikes followed overnight attacks on Pakistani soldiers in several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In response, Pakistan launched air operations targeting Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. In a post on social media platform X, he called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and to immediately halt all military operations.

Anwar emphasized that Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns must be addressed while also respecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stated that these two principles are not contradictory and can be reconciled through dialogue. His remarks have been viewed as a diplomatic appeal for regional stability amid the ongoing tensions.

The statement comes as regional actors continue to monitor the situation closely, with calls for diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.

The world's largest US aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived off the coast of Israel as regional tensions rise over fears of a possible attack on Iran. Israel's Channel 12 reported the development on Friday, though the US military has not yet issued an official statement. The Anadolu Agency also confirmed the report.

According to the report, twenty US refueling aircraft landed in Israel on Thursday night. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said four KC-46A Pegasus refueling planes arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. These moves are being viewed as part of a broader effort by the United States to strengthen its military presence in the Middle East amid growing concerns about potential conflict with Iran.

Analysts described the deployment as significant in light of the recent regional tensions, suggesting it underscores Washington's heightened readiness in the area.

Turkey has stepped up diplomatic efforts in response to rising tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. According to a Turkish diplomatic source cited by Reuters, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone conversations on Friday with his counterparts from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to discuss the latest developments. The talks were reportedly prompted by concerns over a possible deterioration in regional security.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated on social media that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Fidan about the current regional situation, focusing particularly on the growing strain between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The discussions come after renewed clashes along the border between the two neighboring countries.

Analysts view the increased diplomatic engagement by regional powers as an attempt to contain the situation. The involvement of Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia suggests that the issue is being closely monitored across the Muslim world, raising prospects for a multilateral initiative to ease tensions.

Pakistan has claimed that its airstrikes in Afghanistan, following a declaration of war against the country, have killed at least 228 Afghan soldiers and injured 314 others. The Pakistani military spokesperson said that 74 Afghan border posts were destroyed and 18 others captured during the operations.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan, however, reported a significantly lower toll, stating that eight of its soldiers were killed and 11 wounded in the attacks. According to Al Jazeera journalist Kamal Hyder reporting from Peshawar, heavy clashes continued along the border on Friday afternoon, with Pakistan conducting air raids while attacks were also coming from inside Afghanistan.

Both sides have reportedly suffered heavy losses, and the situation remains tense. Pakistan has announced that it will continue retaliatory strikes, signaling a possible escalation of the conflict.

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Defense Ministry announced that its forces carried out attacks across multiple areas of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to the ministry’s statement, 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and several others were captured alive during the operation. The statement also claimed that Afghan forces seized hundreds of light and heavy weapons and took control of two Pakistani army headquarters and 19 checkpoints.

The ministry reported that eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded in the clashes. It said the operation was launched in response to recent airstrikes by the Pakistani government inside Afghan territory. The statement did not specify the exact locations or timing of the attacks.

The announcement marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with both sides trading claims of cross-border assaults. The situation has drawn regional attention as both countries accuse each other of violating sovereignty.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that the Afghan Taliban made a grave mistake by attacking Pakistan. In a post shared by the Interior Ministry on social media platform X, Naqvi condemned the targeting of civilians and stated that Pakistan’s armed forces had given an appropriate response to what he called an open act of aggression. He described the attackers as cowardly enemies who struck under the cover of darkness and vowed that Pakistan would not allow its national security to be compromised.

According to the report, the attack took place on Thursday, February 26, when Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military positions along the border. Afghan officials confirmed that several Pakistani soldiers were killed in the assault. In retaliation, Pakistan launched an operation named “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq,” during which airstrikes by the Pakistan Air Force reportedly killed at least 133 Afghan soldiers and injured around 200 others.

The escalating border violence marks a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighboring countries, with both sides reporting casualties and accusing each other of aggression.