Afghanistan–Pakistan clashes (2024–present)

The Afghanistan–Pakistan clashes are a series of armed clashes consisting of cross-border airstrikes and exchanges of gunfire between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The conflict also separately includes the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Pakistani Taliban, National Resistance Front (NRF), and the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF). The skirmishes took place over a number of locations in Afghanistan, along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, and Western and North-Western part of Pakistan. After de-escalation in March 2024, the conflict resurged in December 2024 with Pakistani airstrikes against Afghanistan, specifically in Paktika Province. Conflict in December 2024 marked the third round of air strikes by Pakistan on the territory of Afghanistan in a period of less than two years. The first similar Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil since Taliban takeover of Afghanistan were in 2022 and the second Pakistani airstrikes were in March 2024.

Starting on 9 October 2025, fighting between the two countries escalated, with a gunfight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, followed by reported Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad, and Paktika reportedly targeting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and its leader, Noor Wali Mehsud, though the group later claimed he survived. In retaliation, the Afghan Taliban launched attacks on multiple Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line on 11–12 October, triggering intense cross-border clashes and reported Pakistani drone strikes in Kandahar and Helmand. Heavy fighting resumed around Spin Boldak on 15 October, after which Pakistan conducted further strikes in Kabul and Kandahar. Both sides accused each other of violating the truce and targeting civilians. On 19 October, following mediation by Qatar and Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, under which Kabul pledged to curb militant activity against Pakistan, while both nations vowed to refrain from further attacks.

During the same period, the Pakistani Taliban and the Baloch Liberation Army carried out attacks inside Pakistan, while the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan and the Afghanistan Freedom Front launched assaults against the Afghan Taliban within Afghanistan. Both countries accused each other of supporting armed opposition groups operating against them.

On 21 February 2026, Pakistani airstrikes targeted Pakistani Taliban (TTP) militant camps in Afghanistan, which escalated into border clashes, and eventually, a broader war between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani forces.