Taliban say they are open to talks after Pakistan bombs Kabul and Kandahar
Feb 28th 2026
After Pakistan bombed major Afghan cities and border clashes escalated, the Taliban said they are ready to negotiate while both sides publish conflicting casualty claims and the UN called for de escalation.
- Pakistan launched air strikes on Kabul, Kandahar and other provinces while fighting continued along the Afghanistan Pakistan border.
- Taliban leaders said they are willing to negotiate to end the violence.
- Pakistan's defence minister declared the confrontation
- open war
- with the Taliban.
- Pakistan's military said it killed at least 274 Afghan fighters and lost 12 soldiers, figures the Taliban rejects.
- Afghanistan reported civilian deaths in Khost and Paktika and gave a different tally of military casualties that has not been independently verified.
- Regional mediators including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have tried to broker talks and the UN urged immediate de escalation