Afghanistan in February 2026: the most important developments in security
In Afghanistan in February 2026, security was dominated by a rapid escalation of fighting with Pakistan, which declared "open war" on 27 February after cross-border strikes. Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of harbouring militants from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which launch attacks from Afghan soil. By the end of the month there was heavy fire along the border, and both sides reported casualties.
The fighting began on 22 February, when Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Pakistani security sources said they killed dozens of militants from the Pakistani Taliban, while the Taliban government said the strikes killed and wounded dozens of people, including civilians. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said the action was rooted in the right to self-defence, and the Taliban government vowed an "appropriate and measured response".
On 26 February Afghan forces launched what they described as large-scale offensive operations in retaliation, and Pakistan struck the cities of Kabul and Kandahar. Pakistani officials said 44 Afghan Taliban operatives and two Pakistani security personnel had been killed. On 27 February the strikes also reached Laghman province. Afghanistan said it used drones against military positions inside Pakistan and that Pakistani strikes killed civilians, including 19 dead from "deliberate targeting". The United States said it supports Pakistan's right to defend itself.
On 28 February a Pakistani fighter jet crashed in Jalalabad. Afghan authorities said they shot it down and captured the pilot, which Pakistan denied, and Pakistan said its retaliatory airstrikes killed hundreds of Taliban fighters. Pakistan reportedly rejected dialogue with the Taliban, and police in Karachi placed the city on high alert.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.