Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed Islamic Emirate forces killed around 40 Pakistani soldiers in Kunar province and transferred 13 bodies, according to a TOLOnews statement posted during the 29-minute reporting window from 6:15:52 PM to 6:45:42 PM UTC on February 26, 2026. Pakistan Armed Forces announced ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haqq with artillery strikes killing more than 20 Afghan Taliban, per @mfs379 and @BalochPulse on X. Pakistani sources reported the army's befitting response to Taliban actions continuing with artillery use in border sectors, confirming over 20 Taliban deaths so far, as stated by @mfs379. The official announcement of Operation Ghazab Lil Haqq targeted the Afghan Taliban regime, according to @BalochPulse. These claims follow Taliban reports of capturing 10 Pakistani outposts and 12 soldier deaths in the prior window, per TOLOnews and @WarNewsP. Independent analyst Sami Yousafzai commented on X that the border clashes may fall silent soon as both sides face pressure to respond without prolonged tension, noting impacts on local border residents, per @SamiYousafzaii. This escalates earlier Taliban claims of 20 outpost captures across Nangarhar, Kunar, and other provinces during the previous period from 5:15 PM to 5:45 PM UTC, as detailed in prior updates citing TOLOnews.
