Satellite images show damage to Kabul buildings after Pakistani airstrikes, as Islamabad calls the conflict “open war” and Afghanistan’s Taliban government signals willingness to negotiate amid escalating tensions.
Satellite images captured on Friday showed visible damage to several buildings in Kabul following Pakistani airstrikes, offering fresh evidence of the sharp escalation between the neighboring countries.
The imagery, dated February 27, revealed destruction at multiple locations in the Afghan capital. Satellite images taken a day earlier, on February 26, showed the same buildings intact before the reported strikes.
Earlier Friday, Pakistani security sources released monochrome footage that they said showed airstrikes targeting the same Kabul locations identified in the satellite imagery.
The developments come amid the most serious confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers in years. Pakistan carried out strikes in Kabul and other major cities, marking the first time it has directly targeted its former allies over allegations that they are harboring militant groups.
Pakistani officials described the situation as “open war,” signalling a dramatic deterioration in relations.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government said on Friday it was willing to negotiate despite the escalation. The strikes reportedly killed dozens of troops, according to Afghan officials.
The latest clashes follow months of rising tensions between the two sides, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of sheltering militants responsible for cross-border attacks — a charge Kabul denies.
