Tehran/Islamabad/Kabul | February 27, 2026 - Iran has offered to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan after a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities saw Pakistani airstrikes hit three Afghan provinces and Islamabad’s defence minister declare the two countries to be in a state of “open war.” As both sides traded heavy accusations and conflicting casualty figures, Tehran called for restraint and dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced the offer in a message posted on X, urging Kabul and Islamabad to resolve their differences through good neighbourliness. Invoking Ramadan as a time of unity and self-restraint, he said Iran stood ready to facilitate talks and support efforts aimed at restoring cooperation between the two Muslim-majority neighbours.
The mediation offer came hours after Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and the southeastern province of Paktia in the early hours of Friday. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that multiple locations were hit, including areas of the Afghan capital, though he did not provide precise details on the sites targeted.
Mujahid claimed Afghan forces responded forcefully, alleging that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 border posts seized during retaliatory operations. He said eight Taliban fighters were killed, 11 wounded, and 13 civilians injured in Nangarhar province as a result of the exchanges.
Islamabad rejected those claims. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes were conducted under an operation named “Ghazab lil Haq,” launched late Thursday night in response to what Pakistan described as an Afghan cross-border attack on its troops. According to Tarar, the operation killed at least 133 Afghan Taliban fighters and wounded more than 200 others.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif escalated the rhetoric further, stating that Pakistan’s patience had run out and characterising the situation as “open war.” Officials in Islamabad maintain that the military action was a direct response to mounting security threats emanating from Afghan territory, allegations that Kabul has consistently denied.
The violence marks the most severe flare-up in a months-long cycle of clashes along the contested border. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated steadily, with key land crossings largely closed since deadly fighting in October left more than 70 people dead on both sides. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration of sheltering militant groups responsible for attacks inside its territory, a charge the Afghan authorities reject.
The crisis has also drawn international attention. India condemned the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil, adding to diplomatic pressure as regional tensions mount. Analysts warn that without swift diplomatic engagement, the conflict risks spiralling further, destabilising an already fragile region.
Iran’s proposal represents one of the first concrete offers of mediation since the latest escalation began. Whether Kabul and Islamabad will accept Tehran’s overture remains unclear. But with casualty claims rising and rhetoric hardening, the call for a diplomatic off-ramp is growing louder.
The situation remains fluid, with both governments continuing to issue statements and military updates. Further developments are expected as the conflict unfolds.
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