Afghanistan-Pakistan War Escalates: Afghan Air Force Strikes Nur Khan Airbase and Quetta HQ; 32 Pakistani Soldiers Killed

Note :- Photo for Representation Purpose Only.

KABUL/ISLAMABAD, March 02, 2026 — The geopolitical landscape of South Asia has shifted into a state of high-intensity conflict as the Afghanistan Ministry of Defence confirmed a series of coordinated, retaliatory airstrikes against several high-profile Pakistani military installations today. In a dramatic escalation following Pakistan’s “open war” declaration last week, Afghan Air Force jets reportedly targeted the strategic Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi—a facility previously damaged during India’s Operation Sindoor in 2025—alongside the 12th Division Headquarters in Quetta and the Khwazai Camp in Mohmand Agency.

The Taliban administration characterized these precise aerial operations as a direct response to recent Pakistani incursions into Kabul and Bagram, warning that any further violation of Afghan sovereignty will be met with a “swift, decisive, and proportionate” military strike.

The conflict has simultaneously intensified on the ground, with reports from TOLO News indicating that the Taliban’s 203 Mansouri, 201 Silab, and 205 Al-Badr Corps launched a massive overnight offensive across the Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, and Kandahar border regions.

Afghan officials claim that these operations, which utilized advanced laser-guided weaponry and specialized equipment, resulted in the deaths of 32 Pakistani soldiers, injuries to 10 others, and the total destruction of four military outposts.

Furthermore, Afghan forces reported shooting down two Pakistani military drones during the skirmish. As both nations exchange heavy fire and move strategic assets to the frontier, the international community is monitoring the situation with growing alarm, fearing a full-scale regional war between the two neighboring Islamic republics.