Over 4,000 Young Afghans Vow To Take Up Arms Against Pakistan, Sign Up To Defend Homeland

Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 22:48 IST

Local law enforcement reported a significant surge in military recruitment in Afghanistan's Panjshir province, where 4,176 young volunteers officially registered

More than 4,000 young Afghans from the Panjshir province have signed up to join the fight against Pakistan, days after border tensions escalated into a full-blown conflict between the two neighbouring countries.

Local law enforcement reported a significant surge in military recruitment in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province, where 4,176 young volunteers officially registered.

According to the Panjshir provincial police command, these volunteers signed up to defend the nation since the onset of what local authorities described as cross-border strikes by Pakistani forces. This massive recruitment drive is being framed as a direct response to territorial incursions by the Afghan Taliban.

Officials said the residents of Panjshir, particularly the younger generation, have shown a “strong willingness" to travel to the Durand Line to confront Pakistani forces. The volunteers have expressed a fervent commitment to protecting their “homeland, system, and people".

This comes as media report said Pakistan targeted the famed Bagram airbase in Afghanistan on Wednesday, as its operation was going against the Afghan Taliban over their alleged failure to stop terrorist attacks from their soil.

Pakistan launched ‘Operation Ghazab lil Haq’ (Righteous Fury) on the night of February 26, following alleged Afghan Taliban attacks on 53 locations along the over 2,600 km border.

State-run PTV in a post on X said Pakistan carried out a “major attack on Bagram Air Base" as it was giving a “befitting response to Afghan Taliban aggression".

“Pakistan continues to conduct vigorous ground and air operations against the unprovoked aggression of the Afghan Taliban," it said.

PTV often quoted unnamed security sources for reports on the Afghanistan attacks, but for the Bagram attack, it quoted The New York Times.

“An aircraft hangar and two warehouses at Bagram Air Base were destroyed in a Pakistani attack, satellite images of which have also emerged," PTV reported, quoting NYT.

It said Afghanistan’s defence ministry confirmed the airstrike, adding that Pakistan carried out more than 50 such hits on military targets in Afghanistan over the past week. Quoting defence experts, it said Pakistan’s “successful operation" on Bagram Air Base caused heavy damage to the Afghan Taliban regime.

“By targeting Bagram Air Base, Pakistan sent a clear message to the Afghan Taliban regime that it can operate anywhere in Afghanistan," it quoted an unnamed defence expert as saying.

The channel said despite Pakistan’s repeated warnings, terrorism continues from Afghanistan, in which weapons left by the United States have also been used. Separately, sources said Pakistani security forces carried out targeted attacks on the defence position of the Afghan Taliban on the border with Balochistan province on the night of March 3 and 4, targeting the “hideouts and posts that were being used by outlawed elements and their facilitators".

The security sources said more than 50 locations were being targeted, with modern weapons being used, including anti-tank guided missiles, rocket launchers and long-range mortars, light and heavy artillery, and main battle tanks. A source said swarm drones are being used for an organised operation, which is “targeting certain targets in coordination with the ground troops".

(With agency inputs)

News world Over 4,000 Young Afghans Vow To Take Up Arms Against Pakistan, Sign Up To Defend Homeland

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