'War Not Our Choice': Afghan's Taliban Says Ready For Prolonged Conflict With Pakistan

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 20:41 IST

Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the conflict was not the choice of the “Islamic Emirate”, but that it had the "right to defend" itself.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has said it is prepared for a prolonged war, as tensions with Pakistan continue to rise along the border.

Speaking at a news conference in Kabul on Tuesday, deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the conflict was not the choice of the “Islamic Emirate", but that it had the “right to defend" itself against what he described as “aggression".

“Some countries have called to end the war, but the demand to stop the war should come from Pakistan, the initiator of the war," Fitrat said. He claimed that Pakistan’s military had killed 110 civilians so far, including more than 65 women and children, and injured another 123 people.

Fitrat also alleged that Pakistan could not carry out such attacks without international support.

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“Without the support of the international community, Pakistan does not have the capability on its own to carry out an attack on a country," he noted.

The latest escalation began last month when Pakistan launched ‘Operation Ghazab lil Haq’ after accusing Afghan Taliban forces of attacking 53 locations along the 2,600-kilometre border. Islamabad said its air strikes targeted militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of failing to act against militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, a charge the Taliban government denies.

Both sides have reported heavy casualties. Afghan officials has said more than 25 of their soldiers have been killed and estimate Pakistani troop deaths at around 150. Pakistan, however, claims that more than 430 Afghan soldiers have been killed and over 630 wounded. These figures could not be independently verified.

The recent violence is the worst since clashes in October that left more than 70 people dead on both sides. Land border crossings between the two countries have largely remained shut since then.

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