Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan fighting? Countries declare ‘open war’

Afghanistan launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistan last night (Picture: AFP)

Pakistan’s defence minister has said his country is in an ‘open war’ with neighbouring Afghanistan after a major escalation of violence.

The comments from Khawaja Mohammad Asif came after Afghanistan launched a cross-border retaliatory attack on Pakistan overnight that saw Islamabad hit back with air strikes on Kabul.

In a post on X, Asif said that Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Nato forces in 2021.