Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a fiery warning to Afghanistan on Saturday, vowing that the nation's armed forces stand ready to "crush" any aggressors as tensions boil over along the volatile Durand Line border. The strong statement comes amid a sharp escalation in cross-border fighting, with Pakistan launching airstrikes deep into Afghan territory in response to attacks on its border posts.

Pakistan kicked off Operation "Ghazab lil Haq" – or "Wrath for Justice" – last week after militants allegedly struck multiple Pakistani outposts. Military officials claim the strikes wiped out over 130 Taliban fighters, razed 27 Afghan posts, seized nine more, and hit hideouts linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Afghan authorities fired back, accusing Pakistan of bombing civilian areas in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces. Shocking videos showed thick smoke rising from the sites, fueling cries of aggression from Kabul.

Sharif, addressing the nation, rallied full support for the military: "Our forces have the complete ability to crush aggressive ambitions. The whole nation stands united with our armed forces." He stressed that Pakistan seeks peace but won't tolerate weakness being mistaken for vulnerability – promising a decisive reply to any threats.

Adding fuel to the fire, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif went further, announcing an "all-out confrontation." "Our patience is exhausted. This is now open war between us," he declared, signaling a potential shift from sporadic clashes to sustained conflict. This marks a tough pivot from earlier diplomacy, where Sharif had pushed for better ties and economic links if Afghanistan cracked down on TTP safe havens.

The Durand Line has long been a flashpoint. Pakistan blames Kabul for sheltering TTP fighters behind attacks that have killed hundreds of its troops. Afghanistan counters with complaints over border fencing and past incursions. A fragile Qatar-brokered ceasefire now hangs by a thread, raising fears of wider fallout. Regional powers like China – with big investments in both countries – and neighbors Iran and India could get pulled in.

Beyond the battles, the porous frontier drives billions in trade. But shutdowns hit hard, spiking prices and halting goods from fruits to fuel. It's a stark echo of how old proxy wars from the Soviet days keep destabilizing South Asia, not unlike India-Pakistan frictions over Kashmir. As the world eyes these nuclear-armed rivals, the path to calm rests on Afghanistan curbing cross-border militancy. Past de-escalations offer hope, but the rhetoric suggests no quick fix.