, Feb. 27 -- Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday said the country is in "open war" with Afghanistan after Islamabad carried out airstrikes on Afghan territory following attacks on Pakistani military posts near the border.

"Our patience has now run out," Asif said, referring to Thursday night's offensive by the Afghan Taliban on Pakistani positions.

The latest escalation comes amid months of cross-border clashes despite a fragile ceasefire agreed in October. Previous negotiations failed to reach a comprehensive deal, with both sides blaming each other for lack of sincerity, reports BBC.

The Taliban said it had launched a "retaliatory operation" on Thursday evening, claiming to capture 19 Pakistani military posts ...