Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan took a sharp and dangerous turn on Saturday when Afghan forces shot down a Pakistani fighter jet over Jalalabad and captured its pilot alive. The incident has deepened an already serious crisis between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking to AFP, police spokesman Tayeb Hammad said, “A Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in the sixth district of Jalalabad city, and its pilot was captured alive.” His statement quickly drew international attention, as it suggested a direct and public military confrontation between the two sides.

Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the military in eastern Afghanistan, also confirmed the incident. He stated that the Pakistani jet was downed by Afghan forces “and the pilot was captured alive”. His remarks reinforced the Taliban government’s position that Afghan forces had successfully targeted the aircraft.

Local residents described dramatic scenes in the sky. Witnesses told AFP they saw the pilot eject from the aircraft before parachuting down into the city. Shortly after landing, he was reportedly detained by Afghan forces. An AFP journalist on the ground said a jet was heard flying over Jalalabad moments before two loud explosions were heard near the city’s airport. The blasts shook nearby areas and caused fear among residents who had already been living under rising tensions.

Pakistan, however, rejected the claim outright. Islamabad dismissed Afghanistan’s statement as false. According to Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi, “That’s a false claim. Totally untrue.” The strong denial highlighted the deep disagreement between the two governments over what exactly happened.

The reported downing of the jet came just one day after Pakistan carried out air strikes on Kabul and Kandahar. Kandahar is known as the base of Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Those strikes were described as part of a fast-growing exchange of military actions between the two countries.

According to the Taliban government, Afghan forces launched a border offensive late Thursday as a response to earlier Pakistani strikes on Afghan territory. At the time of reporting, Islamabad had not made a detailed public comment about any loss of its aircraft.

The situation marks one of the most serious military flare-ups between Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent years. With air forces involved and a pilot reportedly in custody, concerns are rising that the conflict could expand further along the long and unstable border.

On Friday, Pakistan carried out bombing raids on major Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul. Pakistan’s defence minister described the situation as “open war” after months of tit-for-tat clashes. The conflict had already been building through repeated accusations and cross-border attacks.

Pakistan claimed that more than 270 Taliban fighters were killed and over 400 injured in its airstrikes. In response, Afghanistan’s Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces had killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and had targeted what he described as “important military objectives” inside Pakistan. These competing claims could not be independently verified at the time.

Pakistan Rejects Taliban Claim as Border Conflict Intensifies

Pakistan again denied the Taliban’s statement that a Pakistan Air Force jet had been shot down and its pilot captured. The foreign ministry’s dismissal was clear and direct, repeating that the report was false.

Meanwhile, fighting continued on multiple fronts. According to security sources cited by TOLOnews, Taliban-led forces carried out drone strikes under Operation ‘Rad al-Zulm’ targeting Pakistani military camps in Miranshah and Spinwam. At the same time, Pakistan reportedly continued overnight ground and air operations.

AFP reported that a Pakistani fighter jet crashed in Jalalabad on Saturday and that the pilot was captured by Afghan forces. The crash came hours after loud explosions were heard near the city’s airport. Witnesses described hearing the roar of a jet before the blasts. These developments appear closely connected to the ongoing military escalation along the border.

Despite the rising violence, Taliban leaders signalled on Friday that they were ready for dialogue. This statement came only hours after Pakistan conducted strikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and other cities. Both sides described the events as a sharp escalation.

Security sources quoted by The Dawn said the Pakistan Air Force targeted Taliban positions in Nangarhar while troops captured and destroyed multiple border posts. The back-and-forth attacks show how quickly the conflict has expanded beyond isolated incidents.

The latest round of violence began after Pakistan launched airstrikes inside Afghan territory last weekend. Afghan forces responded late Thursday with drone strikes on Pakistani military positions and installations in the northwest near the shared border. Taliban fighters also attacked several border check posts, apparently in retaliation for Sunday’s air raids in Afghanistan’s border areas.

The conflict has unfolded along the 2,600-kilometre frontier that separates the two countries. Both governments blame each other for triggering the latest fighting.

Pakistan launched air and missile strikes early Friday under what it called ‘Operation Ghazab lil Haq’. According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, the strikes targeted locations in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. Security sources in Pakistan told Reuters that the operation included air-to-ground missile attacks on Taliban military offices and posts.

Taliban officials said Pakistani strikes hit parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia on Thursday night, and extended to Paktia, Paktika, Khost and Laghman on Friday. In Kabul, thick black smoke was seen rising from at least two areas, and a large fire was visible in videos verified by Reuters. Mujahid confirmed that there were civilian casualties, although he did not provide further details.

These strikes marked the first time Pakistan directly targeted Afghanistan’s ruling establishment in Kabul over long-standing allegations that it shelters militants who seek to overthrow the government in Islamabad. Afghanistan has consistently denied those accusations.

Pakistani officials claimed that 274 Taliban officials and militants were killed in the latest strikes. Afghanistan responded by saying it had killed 55 Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan confirmed that 12 of its soldiers were killed, while Afghanistan said it had lost 13 Taliban fighters. Hindustan Times reported that these claims could not be independently verified.

International reaction soon followed. Allison Hooker, the US under secretary of state for political affairs, wrote on X after talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch that Washington “continue[s] to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan's right to defend itself against Taliban attacks.” She further stated, “The Taliban have consistently failed to uphold their counterterrorism commitments, allowing violence to destabilize the region while terrorist groups use Afghanistan as a launching pad for their heinous attacks.”

US President Donald Trump also commented on the situation. Speaking to reporters, he praised Pakistan’s leadership. “You have a great prime minister, you have a great general there, you have a great leader. I think two of the people that I really respect a lot,” Trump said. He added, “I think Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”

Calls for calm were also made by other global leaders. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged both sides to step back. In a statement, she said, “The EU reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on the Afghan de facto authorities to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan.” Britain called for “de-escalation,” China urged a ceasefire, and Iran offered to mediate between the two nations.

Inside Pakistan, authorities declared a state of emergency in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Restrictions were placed on certain vehicles after police received credible reports of possible sabotage, according to The Dawn. District education officer Abdul Malik announced a one-day closure of all government schools to protect public safety.

Bannu police were ordered to remain on high alert and increase security across the district. District police officer Yasir Afridi said six attacks in the city were successfully prevented. He added that Afghan advances were stopped at the Kashoo Bridge checkpoint and in the Kotka Muhammad Khan Domel area.

As both sides continue to exchange strong statements and military actions, the situation remains tense and uncertain. The capture of a pilot, the denial from Islamabad, and ongoing air and drone strikes show how quickly the conflict has intensified, raising serious concerns about what may happen next along the border.