Pakistan has released verified footage showing overnight air force strikes on Kabul, targeting Taliban weapons depots and other strategic positions in urban areas. The strikes, part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq launched on February 27, 2026, are a direct response to Taliban-linked attacks that killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and overran several border posts.

Defense officials have emphasized that the operation was necessitated by the failure of diplomatic efforts to curb militant activity, including the harboring of terrorist groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan’s defense minister declared an “open war” against these groups, signaling a decisive shift from negotiation to direct military action.

The footage depicts significant explosions and precise targeting of Taliban assets, underscoring Pakistan’s operational capability to conduct urban airstrikes while aiming to minimize collateral damage. Analysts note that the operation marks a major escalation in the ongoing conflict along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and demonstrates Islamabad’s commitment to retaliating against attacks on its forces, deterring future incursions, and reasserting control over contested regions.