Pakistani officials warn that things have become so bad near the border with Afghanistan that they are now in a “open war,” with many people dead and huge attacks happening over the border. Iran, Russia, and China, all of whom are powerful countries, have said they will help if things grow worse. You have to wonder what their political goals are in a place that isn’t stable.
Pakistan’s military ministry said that after a number of deadly border clashes that started when Afghan forces shot for no cause, Pakistan declared “open war” on Afghanistan. As part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, which means “Righteous Fury,” the Pakistani military began airstrikes on February 26, 2026. They hit 22 Taliban bases in cities like Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika. Pakistan says these operations destroyed 73 outposts, took 17 positions, and disabled more than 115 vehicles and artillery batteries. The strikes attacked spots where terrorists were suspected to be hiding and places where weapons and supplies were housed.
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan quickly fought back, saying they had killed 55 soldiers, taken others prisoner, and shot down a pilot from the Pakistan Air Force. Eight Afghan soldiers died and eleven were hurt, according to Afghan officials. They also alleged they blew up two bases and 19 checkpoints in Pakistan. Pakistan argues that both sides have made claims about how many people have died that can’t be proven. Pakistan claimed that at than 300 Afghans had died. As recently as February 28, there were reports of explosives going off in Kabul and drone strikes on Pakistani camps in Miranshah and Spinwam. This is the worst rise in violence since Qatar and Turkey agreed to stop fighting months ago. It has made it tougher to keep the peace.
There have been problems at the Pak-Af border for a long time.
The 2,640-km Durand Line, which British diplomat Sir Mortimer Durand created in 1893 to stop Russia from growing, has been a source of strife for a long time. This is what caused the current situation at the Pak-Af border. This random line went through Pashtun tribal area, separating ethnic groups between Afghanistan and what became Pakistan in 1947. Kabul has never really loved this separation. Afghanistan even voted against Pakistan joining the UN. This makes it seem like there should be a referendum in Pashtunistan about land east of the border.
People are making offers to mediate around the world.
On February 27 and 28, 2026, Iran, Russia, and China all called for things to calm down and for someone to mediate. They requested a cease-fire straight away for the entire month of Ramadan. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, urged that people should meet in Tehran during Ramadan to help them get along. He talked about “good neighborliness.” Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Envoy, said that Russia works with both countries to fight terrorism. He called for a halt to the attacks and a diplomatic settlement.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said that it is very important to stay calm and talk to each other. He also said that China had helped mediate in the past through “back channels” and would be happy to do so again. The Taliban says they want to talk, but they don’t agree with what Pakistan says. These ideas come to mind at the same time.
Fighting TTP and ETIM near the Af-Pak border to protect the peace.
Trilateral means using diplomacy to get rid of enemies like the U.S. Goals of Mediation
Russia is more willing to mediate than China is because it wants to have substantial economic ties with Pakistan and Afghanistan that depend on them getting along. Moscow wants to be the first to build energy and transportation links that will let people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and maybe even India talk to each other. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from China will keep going no matter what. Ambassador Albert Khorev recently supported both bilateral and multilateral resolutions. This demonstrates that Russia is becoming more involved in mediation.
Russia has a long history with Kabul (it sent weapons to Afghanistan when the Soviet Union fell apart) and has worked with Pakistan to fight terrorism. Just because Russia’s envoy is asking for support directly doesn’t indicate that Russia is taking sides in the conflict. The battle makes Eurasia less stable since it makes it harder for Russian gas and rail to reach South Asia and increases the threat of ISIS-K in the region. Moscow’s primary goal is to end the violence and then start talks. It wants to stop more problems from happening in Central Asia.
What Iran Does and How It Changes Other Things
Iran wants to become involved because of Ramadan solidarity and its predominantly Shia population and common borders. It wants to see Islamic unity. Tehran is worried about the huge number of migrants, the rise of Sunni extremism, and the fact that trade routes are blocked. It says it will do “everything” it can to help individuals talk. Iran is a decent neighbor that has helped strike deals in the past. It sees the crisis as a chance to grab more power.
Why China and Russia are quickly trying to help after Pakistan said “open war” at the Pak-Af border crisis
