Pakistan is in ‘open war’ with Afghanistan after latest strikes, defense minister says

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27 February 2026, 16:51

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan considers itself in an “open war” with neighboring Afghanistan, Pakistan’s defense minister said Friday, in the worst escalation of violence since a Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October.

The comments by Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif came after Afghanistan launched a cross-border retaliatory attack on Pakistan overnight that saw Islamabad hit back with airstrikes on Kabul.

Asif said in an X post that Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability.

Instead, he said that the Taliban had turned Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” Pakistan’s regional archrival with which it has periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. India has had improved ties with Afghanistan recently, offering to enhance bilateral trade, to the annoyance of Islamabad.

“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. There was no immediate reaction from Afghan officials.

Afghan authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province said that fighting was ongoing in the Torkham border area Friday morning. The province’s information directorate said that Pakistani mortar fire hit civilian areas in Torkham, including a refugee camp which had been evacuated overnight. In response, Afghanistan was targeting Pakistani army posts across the border, it said.

‘Exporting terrorism’

The defense minister accused Afghanistan of “exporting terrorism.” Islamabad frequently levies the allegation at its western neighbor as militant violence has surged in Pakistan, accusing Afghanistan of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, and outlawed Baloch separatist groups. The TTP is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. Pakistan accuses the TTP of operating from inside Afghanistan, a charge both the group and Kabul deny.

Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies.

Asif’s comments came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and Paktia province in the southeast, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan says the strikes were in retaliation for the Afghan cross-border attacks.

Retaliatory strikes

Afghanistan said that its military launched its attack late Thursday into Pakistan along the border in six provinces, in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday.

“In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line,” Mujahid said on X on Thursday night. The two countries’ more than 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) long border is known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan hasn’t formally recognized.

Both governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims and said that they inflicted heavy losses on the other. The claims couldn’t be independently verified.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said overnight that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, including some whose bodies were taken into Afghanistan, and that “several others were captured alive.” It said thateight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The ministry said that it destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases, and that the fighting ended around midnight, about four hours after it began Thursday.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded.

Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. He said on X that at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He also said that 27 Afghan installations were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He didn’t specify where the casualties occurred, but said that additional losses were estimated in strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.

Tension has been high between the two neighbors for months, with deadly border clashes in October killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. The violence followed explosions in Kabul that Afghan officials blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad, at the time, conducted strikes deep inside Afghanistan to target militant hideouts.

A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the fighting, although the two sides still occasionally traded fire across the border. Several rounds of peace talks in Istanbul in November failed to produce a formal agreement.

International calls for restraint

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians as required under international law and “to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told Russian news agency Ria Novosti. Kabulov, who is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Afghanistan, said that Moscow would consider mediating between the two countries if requested to do so, according to Ria Novosti.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue during Ramadan, “a time of self-restraint and solidarity in the Islamic world.” He said that Tehran is ready to assist in facilitating dialogue between the two countries.

Refugees at the border

Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees at the Torkham border had been relocated to safer places.

Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time.

Since then, millions have crossed the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there.

Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year.

Thai air force chief meets Myanmar junta leader

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27 February 2026, 14:47

Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kanta, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, visited Naypyitaw on 27 February for talks with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, the Thai military said.

The trip came a day after a junta warplane bombed a market in Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State, an area controlled by the Arakan Army, killing 18 civilians, mostly women and children. Two days earlier, airstrikes on Myinmu Township in Sagaing Region left nine people dead, including a child under five.

A day before the visit, the Royal Thai Air Force said Seksan also held discussions with senior Myanmar Air Force commanders in Naypyitaw to strengthen ties and elevate security cooperation. The talks focused on confidence-building at the air force level, expanding training and personnel development, and enhancing coordination among commanders to boost readiness and support stability along the border.

According to junta media, both sides discussed joint air force training and broader military cooperation. Min Aung Hlaing described the December–January election as a “success”, portraying the military as a “permanent guardian” of democratisation in Myanmar and claiming voters participated voluntarily without major protest.

The Royal Thai Air Force said it remains committed to professionalism and to advancing security cooperation for national interests and regional stability.

Five-legged calf draws lottery hopefuls in Sukhothai

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27 February 2026, 14:13

Five-legged calf draws lottery hopefuls in Sukhothai

SUKHOTHAI — 27 February 2026, A newborn calf with five legs has drawn crowds of curious neighbours and lottery hopefuls to a house in Sukhothai province.

The calf was born at 111/7, Moo 6, Ban Mon Khiri, in the Muang Kao subdistrict of Mueang district, Sukhothai. Villagers flocked to see the unusual animal, whose fifth leg protrudes from the nape of its neck and hangs down from the crest.

Miss Sukontha, 31, the calf’s owner, said the male calf, named “Thung Ngern Thung Thong”, roughly “Money Bags”, was born on 22 February and is now five days old. Despite the anomaly, it is healthy and energetic.

She said the extra limb extends from the poll of the neck and is accompanied by a small sac-like lump, inspiring the calf’s name. The animal is affectionate, playful and enjoys running around with people, she added.

Sukontha said she sells lottery tickets at the Mae Ya Shrine cave and keeps more than 30 cattle at home, with her parents helping to care for them. She said she had previously won lottery prizes for more than 10 consecutive draws and believes the calf was born to bring good fortune. She has no plans to sell it and intends to raise it for the rest of its life.

Lottery enthusiasts have been noting the house number, the calf’s birth date and the number of its legs as potential winning numbers for the next draw.

Thai Airways posts 30.9 billion baht profit in 2025

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27 February 2026, 12:43

Thai Airways International reported a net profit of 30.94 billion baht for 2025, marking a sharp turnaround from the previous year’s loss and underscoring a sustained recovery in the aviation sector.

Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri said total revenue, excluding one-off items, reached 190.28 billion baht, up 1.2% year-on-year and exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Operating expenses, excluding special items, rose 2% to 149.44 billion baht in line with higher flight frequencies and passenger volumes, despite lower average jet fuel prices. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) stood at 40.84 billion baht, while EBITDA totalled 53.88 billion baht.

Including special items, the airline posted a net gain of 782 million baht, mainly from aircraft lease terminations and foreign exchange gains, partly offset by asset impairments, derivative losses and financial costs under TFRS 9 amounting to 13.15 billion baht. As a result, Thai Airways recorded a net profit of 30.94 billion baht, equivalent to earnings per share of 1.09 baht, compared with a loss per share of 6.26 baht in 2024.

As of 31 December 2025, total assets rose 3.9% to 304.06 billion baht, while total liabilities fell 7.6% to 228.15 billion baht. Shareholders’ equity increased significantly to 75.91 billion baht, up more than 30 billion baht from a year earlier. Cash and cash equivalents, including short-term investments, stood at 123.56 billion baht, reflecting strengthened liquidity.

Passenger revenue remained the core driver, with revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rising 8.3% and average cabin factor improving to 79.2%. The airline carried 16.46 million passengers, up 2% year-on-year, while air cargo volumes expanded by 8–9%.

Looking ahead, the carrier said it will continue its “Network Line” strategy to diversify revenue across regions and reduce exposure to geopolitical risks. The company has hedged about 50% of its fuel consumption to manage cost volatility. In 2026, Thai Airways plans to take delivery of 14 Airbus A321neo and four Boeing 787-9 aircraft, operate 62 routes globally, launch a Bangkok–Amsterdam service in July and increase frequencies to Auckland, China and India.

Hooded gang steals 2 million baht from home of UK chef

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27 February 2026, 12:25

Hooded gang steals 2 million baht from home of UK chef

CHONBURI — 26 February 2026, A gang of three hooded robbers armed with knives stormed the home of a British chef in Chonburi late on Thursday, making off with a safe containing 2 million baht (£45,000) in cash, police said.

Police were alerted to the robbery at 23:06 at a townhouse in Chokchai Village 9 housing estate in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district.

The victim, identified as 32-year-old British national Wesleigh Cyril Russell, a chef working overseas, told officers that he was at home with his Thai wife and a British friend when three men forced their way inside.

The suspects, described as foreign men of solid build, were dressed in dark hooded tops and long trousers, with their faces concealed, revealing only their eyes. One of the assailants held a knife to Russell’s neck and demanded to know where cash was kept.

The gang forced the three victims into the kitchen and snatched two mobile phones, an iPhone 16 and an iPhone 14, before going upstairs and carrying off a safe containing more than 2 million baht in cash. The money had reportedly been withdrawn to purchase a house.

The robbers fled in a black pickup truck parked outside the property, crashing through the estate’s security barrier as they escaped.

Security camera footage captured clear images of the suspects entering the house and later calmly walking back to the vehicle before driving away.

Police launched a search but initially found no trace of the gang.

At 01:36 on 27 February, officers from Nong Prue police station and Pattaya tourist police traced the suspects’ route and discovered the victims’ discarded mobile phones on a roadside near the railway track heading towards Sattahip. The devices had been thrown about 200 metres apart into roadside brush during the escape.

The phones were collected as evidence and sent to forensic officers in Chonburi for fingerprint examination.

Police said they are continuing to hunt for the suspects and urged anyone who sees suspicious vehicles or individuals matching the descriptions to contact Nong Prue police station immediately. Officers said they were confident arrests would be made soon.

Thailand ready for Asia’s first Tomorrowland, targeting 5 billion baht boost

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27 February 2026, 12:09

Tomorrowland2016mainstage — Tomorrowland 2016

Thailand will host Tomorrowland for the first time, with ticket sales set to begin on 7 March, as officials project more than 1 billion baht in spending and billions more in overall economic value.

Deputy government spokeswoman Aiyarin Phanrith said on 27 February that the government, through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has partnered with Thai private firms and the Tomorrowland team to stage Tomorrowland Thailand, marking the festival’s first full-scale edition in Asia. The event will take place from 11–13 December 2026 at Wisdom Valley in Pattaya, Chonburi province.

Held under the theme “Consciencia”, the festival will connect editions in Belgium, Thailand and Brazil, centring on six core human emotions: wonder, love, anger, joy, desire and sadness. Organisers expect up to 50,000 visitors per day, with more than 60 per cent projected to be international travellers.

TAT said pre-registration has drawn interest from more than 110 countries, including long-haul markets such as Latin America, South Africa and Europe, as well as short-haul markets including China, Singapore and South Korea.

Hotel packages, including accommodation, a three-day Full Madness Pass and shuttle transfers between hotels and the venue, will go on sale at 16:00 on 28 February 2026 via the WorldWide Ticket Sale platform. General admission tickets will be available from 16:00 on 7 March 2026, with four categories: one-day Day Pass, one-day Comfort (VIP) Pass, three-day Full Madness Pass and three-day Full Madness Comfort (VIP) Pass.

Aiyarin described hosting Tomorrowland Thailand as a point of national pride and a milestone for the country’s tourism and creative economy. Authorities estimate direct spending by attendees at no less than 1.426 billion baht, generating a total annual economic impact of around 5.3 billion baht.

Man charged with murder after partner shot in car in Ubon Ratchathani

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27 February 2026, 11:59

Surapong Lojaroenat Murdered — A photo of Surapong Lojaroenrat beside her partner

UBON RATCHATHANI — 26 February 2026, A 44-year-old transgender woman was shot in the head and later died after her partner allegedly opened fire inside a vehicle before driving her to hospital, police said.

Pol. Lt. Col. Phayao Kruabut, an investigator at Dech Udom Police Station, said officers were notified at about 22:30 that a gunshot victim had been admitted to Somdet Phra Yupparat Det Udom Hospital.

The victim, identified as Surapong Lojaroenrat, 44, had sustained a gunshot wound entering the right side of the head and exiting the left. She was in critical condition and later died.

Hospital staff told police that the victim was brought in by her partner, 32, who arrived in a red SUV and parked in front of the hospital.

Investigators found a single bullet hole in the left rear window of the vehicle. Inside, they discovered a brown 9 mm semi-automatic handgun with a registration number in the glove compartment and one spent 9 mm shell casing. A large amount of blood was found on the front passenger seat.

banner2 7 — The red SUV invovled in the murder, clearly showing what appears to be a bullet hole through the rear window

Warayut was taken into custody for questioning.

He allegedly told police that he and the victim had been in a relationship for 13 years but had recently argued frequently. On the day of the incident, he asked her to go for a drive to a secluded area near the entrance to Pak Mun Dam in Sirindhorn district, Ubon Ratchathani province.

He said he stopped the car, pretended to step out to urinate, then used the handgun he was carrying to shoot her in the head.

After the shooting, he drove back to his home in Dech Udom district to inform his mother before taking the victim to hospital, where police later arrested him.

Police have charged Warayut with premeditated murder and carrying a firearm in a public place without reasonable cause. Authorities said the handgun was legally registered.

banner4 4 — A photo of Surapong Lojaroenrat next to her partner which she lived with for many years

Thai court orders seizure from Yim Leak, Ben Smith, Chen Zhi, and Kok An’s cases

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27 February 2026, 11:02

Thai court orders seizure from Yim Leak, Ben Smith, Chen Zhi, and Kok An's cases

BANGKOK — 27 February 2026, The Civil Court has ordered the temporary seizure of assets worth about 13.074 billion baht linked to four major scam and public fraud cases, following a petition by public prosecutors, officials said.

Witthaya Neetitham, assistant secretary-general and spokesman of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, said on 27 February that the agency’s Transaction Committee had resolved at its meeting No. 2/2026 on 11 February to refer the cases to prosecutors. The move followed a review of petitions seeking the revocation of temporary seizures and freezes of assets by interested parties.

He said the committee found insufficient grounds to conclude that the seized and frozen assets were unrelated to criminal offences.

On 17 February, AMLO Secretary-General Thepsu Bavorchotidara assigned officials to forward the case files to public prosecutors at the Office of the Attorney General’s Special Litigation Department to seek court orders for the assets to vest in the state. The four cases have a combined estimated value of 13.074 billion baht.

Prosecutors subsequently filed petitions with the Civil Court requesting orders for the assets to fall to the state. After examining evidence during an inquiry, the court found reasonable grounds to believe the assets connected to the alleged offences could be transferred, sold or otherwise dissipated.

The court therefore ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of the assets until further order under Section 55 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 (1999), authorising the AMLO secretary-general to carry out the seizures or freezes, safeguard the assets and notify relevant parties.

Details of the four cases are as follows:

A case involving Tangthai, also known as Yim Leak, Wirinya, Ben Smith, Kattriya and others. The Civil Court registered it as Black Case No. F 31/2569. On 26 February 2026, the court issued an order to temporarily seize and freeze assets worth about 12.123 billion baht, in line with the asset list submitted by AMLO to prosecutors.
A case involving Chen Zhi and associates, registered as Black Case No. F 25/2569. On 25 February 2026, the court ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of assets worth about 345 million baht.
A case involving Kok An and associates, registered as Black Case No. F 29/2569. On 25 February 2026, the court ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of assets worth about 560 million baht.
A case involving Uea-angkun and associates, registered as Black Case No. F 20/2569. On 24 February 2026, the court ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of assets worth about 46 million baht.

If the seized or frozen assets in the four cases are unsuitable for storage or would place a burden on the authorities, such as cars or yachts, the AMLO secretary-general may order them to be auctioned, with the proceeds kept in lieu of the assets under Section 57 paragraph two of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

In the event that victims of the predicate offences are identified, AMLO will gather evidence in accordance with the law and refer the matter to prosecutors to petition the court to return or compensate victims from the seized money or assets instead of ordering them to vest in the state, the spokesman said.

Tyre recycling factory fire in Samut Sakhon contained after hours-long battle

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27 February 2026, 09:38

tyre-recycling-factory-fire — Aerial photography showing the scale of the fire and response effort from firefighters

SAMUT SAKHON — 27 February 2026, More than 20 fire engines battled a pre-dawn blaze at a tyre recycling factory in Krathum Baen district after flames engulfed large piles of used tyres, with officials expecting operations to last all day.

Flames tore through the roughly two-rai compound, where large piles of car and motorcycle tyres were stored. More than 20 fire engines were deployed, but narrow, single-access roads hampered efforts. Firefighters pumped water from the front and side of the factory to contain the blaze.

Krathum Baen district chief Pirunroj Nakdontri and Pol. Col. Phasapong Monta, superintendent of Krathum Baen Police Station, led the response. Authorities said the volume of tyres made the fire difficult to extinguish. Three backhoes were brought in to break apart the piles so water could reach the base of the flames. Officials expect operations to last all day.

Nearby factories were not affected, and farmland behind the site helped prevent the fire from spreading.

Jantapen Pancharoentakul, 46, the owner, said she and her husband, a Chinese national, have operated the factory for more than 20 years. About 20 workers — mostly ethnic Shan from Myanmar — and their families were asleep in on-site accommodation when the blaze began. Her niece noticed the air conditioner had stopped working and discovered flames near an electrical cabinet. All occupants evacuated safely.

The cause is believed to be an electrical short circuit. Damage is estimated at 30 million to 40 million baht.

Pol. Lt. Tivattapon Thawisangsaksit, deputy investigation inspector at Krathum Baen Police Station, is collecting evidence and will question the owner and witnesses. Provincial forensic officers will conduct a further examination. Authorities will also inspect the factory’s permits and operating licences.

Korean man arrested over fire and truck theft

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26 February 2026, 17:42

Korean man arrested over fire and truck theft

CHIANG MAI — 26 February 2026, A South Korean man allegedly went on a rampage in a village in northern Thailand, setting fire to rubbish and stealing a pickup truck before being detained by police, local officials said.

Chanthira Thatong, head of Village 4 in Ban Mae Kaw, Fa Ham subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai district, said the incident occurred at about 07:00 on 25 February 2026.

Villagers reported that a South Korean man, believed to be in his 40s, had caused a disturbance in the community the previous night. He later returned and was seen wandering around the village before setting fire to rubbish on a vacant plot of land, creating thick smoke.

The man also allegedly stole a black four-door Nissan pickup truck belonging to Prasert Diesel shop and drove it around the area.

Local administrative officials coordinated with police, who arrested the man and recorded complaints from the vehicle’s owner. He faces charges of theft and trespassing causing damage to private property.

Officials said the man carried no identification documents and was unable to speak Thai. Questioned in English, he appeared incoherent and showed signs of mental instability.

Authorities contacted the South Korean consulate, which confirmed that the man has a history of mental illness. Relatives in South Korea had reportedly been searching for him. The consulate coordinated with his family, who have since travelled to Thailand.

Police have admitted the man to Suan Prung Hospital in Chiang Mai for treatment and are awaiting officials from the South Korean embassy and his relatives to arrange his return to South Korea.

‘Exporting terrorism’

Retaliatory strikes

International calls for restraint

Refugees at the border

Details of the four cases are as follows:

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