‘2 months into 2026, Afghanan-Pakan are fighting’: Internet reacts to escalation

Pakan carried out airstrikes on the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the provinces of Paktia and Kandahar in the early hours of Friday. Confirming the operation, Pakani Information Miner Attaullah Tarar stated that ‘Afghan Taliban defense targets’ were hit. The strikes have sparked a firestorm of reactions across social media.A Pakani army tank stands at the Pakan-Afghanan border in Chaman on February 27, 2026, following overnight cross-border fighting between the two countries. (AFP)Social media expresses concern:An X user shared that it’s just two months into 2026, and the two countries are already engaged in a clash in which both claim to have inflicted casualties. The person wrote, “2 months into 2026, Afghanan-Pakan are fighting.” Another person shared that the clash will do nothing but bring unrest in both countries. “All this will bring more unrest in Pakan and Afghanan.”Also Read: Pakan Afghanan ‘war’ LIVEFearing nuclear warfare, another individual posted, “It’s also crazy Pakan is nuclear armed as well.” Another joined, “This will not end well.”What is Operation Ghazab lil-Haq?Pakan launched a major military offensive under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban. According to Pakani news portal The Dawn, the operation was launched after “unprovoked firing” from across the border.The report further mentioned that two Pakani security personnel lost their lives and 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed during the operation. However, Kabul claimed 55 Pakani soldiers were killed.Pakan’s defence miner, Khawaja Asif, declared an “open war”, adding that the operation was a strong response to aggression from the Afghan Taliban. He said, “The forces of Pakan had given a decisive response to aggression from the Afghan Taliban.”Also Read: Afghanan attacks Pakan, strikes hit Kabul and Kandahar hours later. What’s happening?Iran offers to act as a mediator:Iranian foreign miner Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in a tweet, said, “In the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of self-restraint and strengthening solidarity in the world of Islam, it is fitting that Afghanan and Pakan manage and resolve their exing differences within the framework of good neighborliness and through the path of dialogue.”Araghchi added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide any assance in facilitating dialogue and strengthening understanding and cooperation between the two countries.”Will Afghanan retaliate?”We will retaliate if we are attacked, but we won’t start clashes at the moment,” a Taliban military spokesperson told the BBC.Several images after the clash have surfaced on social media, including one given as a handout Pakani security forces to the media, which shows smoke rising from different parts of Kabul after Pakan’s airstrikes.There are also images that show injured people getting treated in Afghanan, after a Pakan strike.