, Feb. 28 -- Pakistan has carried out airstrikes on Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, and other cities, marking a sharp escalation of hostilities along the two countries' shared border.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared on Friday that Islamabad's patience with the Taliban authorities had ended, describing the situation as "open war."

The strikes followed Afghan Taliban claims of "large-scale offensive operations" against Pakistani forces along the Durand Line, which separates the two countries, reports Al Jazeera.

Pakistani officials said Afghan forces attacked border military posts, prompting Pakistan to hit Taliban targets in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar provinces. The attacks reportedly destroyed brigade bases, ammunition...