Pakistan and Afghanistan Declare Open War: Who Holds the Power?

• Pakistan and Afghanistan have declared an "open war," allowing direct military attacks between the two nations.
• Key disputes include the 2,600-kilometer Durand Line, which Afghanistan refuses to recognize, and Pakistan's accusations of TTP terrorists using Afghan soil.
• Recent clashes in February 2026 saw Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, followed by Afghan shelling of Pakistani border posts.
• An open war signifies official government acknowledgment of conflict, deployment of forces, and breakdown of diplomatic relations.
• Pakistan, with its 14th global military rank, nuclear weapons, 650,000 soldiers, and 465 fighter jets, significantly outranks Afghanistan (121st, no nuclear weapons, 175,000 fighters, no fighter jets) in conventional power.