The building has become a centre for vandalism, as it’s covered in graffiti and windows are boarded up

“Fed up” residents are demanding answers over the future of a derelict building that has been left as an “eyesore” for 19 years. Bretton Court along Flaxlands in Bretton, Peterborough, has been left in disrepair for nearly 20 years.

Once the home of The Roundhead Pub and offices, the building has since been a centre of vandalism, with boarded up windows and graffiti covering it. Nearby residents have seen the building get into a worse state over the years.

They are “fed up” with nothing being done with it, and are demanding answers from its owners. Residents John Hopkins, Alan Gasparutti, Carol Strong and Jo Parker are some of these residents.

“We are all ashamed of it – it’s been like that for a long time and nothing is being done about it,” said Carol. She added: “It looks terrible.”

John, who has lived in Bretton since he was a child, and Alan feel the state of the building will put off people moving to the area. John said: “I know people that have moved away because they feel the community feel is gone [in Bretton]. Buses go past this building and it’s the first thing you see. What do those people think of it?”

Alan said: “The building has been derelict for 19 years. It’s so big, but nothing has been done with it. We don’t want an eyesore here. If anyone goes near there, it will put them off.”

Jo has lived in Bretton since the 1970s. The former art teacher said the “heart of the community has been ripped out” since it has been left in disrepair. She added: “When I moved here, it [Bretton Court] was a place for everyone.

“The pub used to have a gallery, but they didn’t replace it with anything. It feels like Bretton has been left behind. It used to be a great community.”

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the building is a “disappointing sight”.

They added: “Nothing is being done about it. If it’s not better taken care of, it’s just going to get worse. The barbed wire around it looks like a prison right in front of our houses.”

Several planning applications have been submitted to Peterborough City Council for the building, including conversion of the former pub into shops and offices. These were permitted, but no work has taken place.

John, Jo, Alan and Carol would like to see Bretton Court put to better use. Carole wants the building to be turned into “something for the community” and “something to bring people in”.

She added: “We are just fed up. We want something sorted, but there are always excuses.”

John would like the building to be used for something to improve the nearby health centre, as well as something for the “future generation”.

Jo would like to see it be used for art. She said: “Coming from the world of arts, it could be an art and crafts centre, a dance studio, something to do with music and an art gallery. There is a lot of potential there.”

The building is operated by Medesham Homes, which is a joint venture created by Peterborough City Council and Cross Keys Homes in 2016. Cross Keys Homes has been seeking to dissolve its partnership with Medesham Homes.

The residents feel “fobbed off” by the council, and want some answers over the building’s future. John said: “We want conversations with them. We want to know what is going on, and maybe some input. If they have plans, let us know what is going on.”

Councillor Mohammed Jamil, cabinet member for finance and corporate governance at the council, said he is aware of residents’ concerns.

Cllr Jamil said: “We are fully aware of the issues concerning Bretton Court, including the impact this may be having on nearby residents, and are actively working with Cross Keys Homes to resolve the long-term future of the site as part of our interest in Medesham Homes Ltd.

“We are working to agree terms, and conclude discussions with Cross Keys Homes as soon as possible. Following this it is anticipated that the site will eventually be refurbished or redeveloped.”

A Cross Keys Homes spokesperson said: “We appreciate, and share, the frustration of local residents regarding the ongoing issues at Bretton Court. We have been looking to dissolve the Medesham Homes partnership for several years now since it was clear that Peterborough City Council didn’t want to keep investing in the joint venture.

“We have made several offers to them and are still waiting for the council’s response with draft heads of agreement on our most recent offer made in August 2025. Unfortunately, without a response, it is impossible for Cross Keys Homes to move forward and realise the positive benefits of the site regardless of which partner takes it over.”

Medesham Homes have been contacted for further comment.

The latest shortages are a result of unexpected heavy rainfall in key growing areas, particularly in southern Europe and North Africa.

Strawberries, raspberries, avocados, and peppers are the worst-affected items, according to The Grocer.

Wet weather in the UK and Europe is continuing to cause significant issues for fruit and veg crops

Leading to sporadic #shortages of some items on supermarket shelves this weekhttps://t.co/2TK5RpMHNq

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— The Grocer (@TheGrocer) February 20, 2026

Analysis by The Grocer showed strawberries in particular have been in short supply, especially in Tesco, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, and Asda.

Issues with raspberry stocks have also been reported, especially in Morrisons and Lidl, while the supply of avocados and peppers has also been low in several UK supermarkets.

Retail experts urge Brits to “shop as normal” amid ongoing supply shortage

Almost a third (29%) of shoppers have been left unable to buy fruit and vegetables over the past week, according to a recent survey by product intelligence business Vypr .

Around 26% of consumers said the shortages had forced them to shop at multiple supermarkets, while 67% are worried about potential price increases caused by the recent issues.

Despite concerns about the recent shortages, retail expert and Vypr founder Ben Davies said there was “nothing to be concerned about in terms of food security or general shortages”.

Mr Davies explained: “What it means is that some products are not readily available, but there is still plenty of other food.

“It may mean there are slightly higher prices temporarily as supermarkets won’t be able to run volume promotions on items that are in short supply.

“The supermarket buying teams will be looking at other options for sourcing their fruit and veg if they need to, and everyone will be working very hard to restore the shelves to normal levels.”

The retail expert, whose company works with the likes of Marks & Spencer (M&S), Hallmark, and The Gym Kitchen, also urged shoppers to refrain from panic buying during the shortages.

Mr Davies said: “It’s easy for consumers to feel frustrated when they can’t find what they’re looking for on the shelves, but it’s worth remembering that there are a lot of people working very hard behind the scenes to fix this.

“The buyers, growers, and logistics teams are all pulling together to get things back to normal as quickly as they can.

“The one thing that doesn’t help is panic buying.

“As soon as people start loading their trolleys with extra stock ‘just in case’, the shortage spreads well beyond what the weather actually caused.

“So the best advice is simply to shop as you normally would and consider the needs of others.”

The Vypr founder also recommended shoppers look for other seasonal produce grown within the UK or use frozen alternatives to help survive the stock shortages.

How long will these supermarket shortages last?

Mr Davies said these fruit and vegetable stock shortages could last anywhere from two to six weeks.

He explained: “Typically, these situations resolve within around two – six weeks, depending on the weather and whether buyers can find alternative suppliers from different regions.

“Fresh produce supply chains are actually very agile, but the crops still need some time to grow.”

Around 71% of shoppers have reported not seeing any supply shortages in their local supermaket in recent weeks, but Mr Davies warned retailers to be cautious.

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He said: “While the number of consumers who have been affected by the fruit shortages is small according to our data, what retailers need to be cautious of is that consumers will get frustrated if shortages become more regular.

“Strawberries and raspberries are out of season but we have become accustomed to everything being available 12 months a year and a small, but significant proportion of shoppers are going elsewhere to purchase what they can’t readily find.

“All stages of supply chain will be working hard to rectify this and hopefully this current shortage will be over quickly with minimal lasting impact.”

Have you been affected by supply shortages at your local supermarket? Let us know in our poll above or in the comments below.

Pakistan have accused the Taliban government of backing cross-border attacks, as both sides report conflicting casualty figures and escalating clashes along the border.

Pakistan has announced what it calls an “open war” with neighboring state Afghanistan after launching overnight strikes.

Pakistan’s defence minister said the country had run out of patience and was now in direct conflict with Afghanistan. In a post on X, Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped Afghanistan would stabilise after NATO troops withdrew, and expected the Taliban to focus on the well-being of Afghans and regional peace.

Instead, he accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into what he described as “a colony of India,” gathering militants from around the world and exporting terrorism. “Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. Afghan officials had not immediately responded to his remarks.

Pakistan has long accused India of supporting militant groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, allegations that New Delhi denies, reports the Mirror.

The comments came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul, as well as in Kandahar and Paktia Province, according to Pakistani officials and Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

Pakistan said the strikes were a response to cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

Both sides have reported very different casualty figures and each claims to have inflicted heavy losses. Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed overnight, with some bodies taken into Afghanistan, and that several others were captured. It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded.

The ministry added that 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases were destroyed, and that the fighting ended around midnight, roughly four hours after it began on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded. Meanwhile, Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied reports that Pakistani troops had been captured.

In another post on X, he said at least 133 Afghan fighters had been killed and more than 200 wounded, adding that 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify where the casualties occurred but said further losses were likely from strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.

Two senior security officials in Islamabad said Afghan forces at some border posts had raised white flags, typically seen as a signal to stop firing. They said Pakistani forces were continuing what they described as a strong retaliatory response to “unprovoked aggression” by the Afghan Taliban and had destroyed several key Taliban positions along the border. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Asif also accused the Taliban government of denying Afghans basic human rights, including rights for women that he said are guaranteed under Islam, though he did not provide details or evidence. He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability directly and through friendly countries.

Authorities in Pakistan said dozens of Afghan refugees waiting to return home at the northwestern Torkham Border Crossing were moved to safer locations after the clashes began.

Pakistan began a major crackdown in October 2023 to expel undocumented migrants, urging them to leave voluntarily or face arrest and deportation. The policy pushed millions to cross into Afghanistan, including people born in Pakistan who had lived and worked there for decades.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan last year, with nearly 80,000 more having returned so far this year.

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Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin came second with 10,578, while Labour’s Angeliki Stogia was third with 9,364. The Conservative’s Charlotte Cadden came fourth with 706 votes – the party’s worst ever by-election result – and the Liberal Democrats’ Jackie Pearcey had 653. No other parties got more than 200 votes.

Huntley was assaulted in the workshop of HMP Frankland near Durham on Thursday morning and taken to hospital

An inmate shouted “I’ve done it, I’ve done it” after Soham killer Ian Huntley was attacked at a maximum security prison, according to reports. Durham Constabulary said a prisoner, understood to be Huntley, was attacked in the workshop of HMP Frankland near Durham on Thursday morning and taken to hospital.

The Sun, which first reported the attack, said the killer was knocked unconscious with a metal pole and quoted a source saying his condition was “touch and go”. According to the paper, a man shouted “I’ve done it, I’ve done it” after the 52 year old was struck six times.

Huntley was treated for head injuries and remains in a serious condition in hospital, the force said on Thursday afternoon. A prisoner in his mid-40s has been identified as a suspect in the attack, according to police.

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A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “The 52-year-old prisoner who was injured during this morning’s assault in the workshop at HMP Frankland remains in a serious condition in hospital following treatment for head injuries.

“Police forensic teams have examined the scene of the attack throughout the day to gather evidence.

“A suspect, a male prisoner in his mid-40s, has been identified by officers investigating the incident.

“He has not been arrested at this stage but remains in detention within the prison.”

Former caretaker Huntley killed 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4 2002, then dumped their bodies in a ditch.

The Press Association understands Huntley was left in a pool of blood after the incident.

Thursday’s assault marks the latest attempt on Huntley’s life, and he is believed to have been kept under close watch to prevent similar attacks.

He is serving a life sentence with a recommendation that he serves at least 40 years for the murders.

In 2010, robber Damien Fowkes slashed Huntley with a makeshift weapon, inflicting a “severe, gaping cut to the left side of his neck” with a 7in (18cm) wound which required 21 stitches.

Fowkes asked a prison officer: “Is he dead? I hope so.”

He referred to Huntley as a “notorious child killer, both inside prison and in society in general”.

Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi is accused of carrying out “terrorist” attacks on prison officers at the maximum security jail with hot cooking oil and improvised weapons.

He denies three counts of attempted murder after four officers were injured on April 12.

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died following an alleged attack last October at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences.

On Monday, Killamarsh killer Damien Bendall received another life sentence after he pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a fellow Frankland inmate who he assaulted with a claw hammer in a prison workshop.

A prison officer who saw the assault believed Bendall, who murdered his partner and three children with a hammer and is serving a whole life tariff, had killed his victim, but he survived.

The mother and daughter both pleaded guilty to assault and affray

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A mother celebrating her hen do has been jailed after breaking a woman’s nose during a drunken confrontation in which she called her own daughter a s***.

Donna Ellis, 38, had been out drinking with her daughter, 19‑year‑old Elisa Smith, on August 10, 2024 when the pair became involved in an altercation which turned violent. The victim, who had been drinking with colleagues at The Black Garter pub, was outside smoking when she overheard Ellis insulting her daughter.

As Smith became visibly upset, the woman urged Ellis to walk away, resulting in Ellis squaring up to her and challenging her to a fight. A brief exchange followed before the situation escalated, reports the Chronicle.

Ellis then punched her to the face as her daughter took hold of her and dragged her to the ground, where both of them repeatedly punched and kicked the victim until she lost consciousness. Both women were then throwing punches and offering violence to others in the area.

A betting shop window was broken during the ugly brawl, which was captured on CCTV. Police attended and arrested the mother and daughter and Ellis tried to headbutt a police officer.

The woman was left with fractures to her nose and septum, requiring an operation to realign the damage. In police interviews, Smith confirmed her mother frequently became abusive when drunk and had called her a derogatory name shortly before the attack.

She told officers the victim had simply intervened to say Ellis should not speak to her daughter that way, and the confrontation spiralled from there.

The victim told the court in a victim statement that she was left with headaches from being punched and stamped to the head and is now scared of big crowds of people and loud noises.

“I’m petrified this might happen again,” she admitted, adding that she has suffered panic attacks and that the incident has impacted her work as a social worker for people with mental health issues.

Thirty-eight-year-old Ellis has 103 previous convictions, while her daughter has none. The pair, both of Killingworth Avenue, Backworth, North Tyneside, admitted assault and affray. Ellis also admitted charges of assaulting an emergency worker that day and another day.

The violent mum has been jailed for 29 months and Smith was sentenced to 13 months suspended for 18 months with 200 hours unpaid work. Recorder Richard Stubbs described the attack as an “episode of mindless violence”.

“This was a prolonged and persistent assault, including punches and kicks while she was on the floor and, potentially, continuing after she lost consciousness,” Mr Stubbs added.

Mark Harrison, for Ellis, said she is sorry for her behaviour, can’t recall saying anything unkind to her daughter and said the footage of the violence which followed is a “source of shame to her”. He added that she suffered violence during the fracas and was left with a wound to her face which was bleeding.

Matthew Purves, for Smith, said she had a difficult upbringing but has qualifications and employment and said of the day of the offences: “It should have been nothing but a joyous event.”

All eyes are on Hannah Spencer, the 34-year-old plumber who took the Gorton and Denton by-election in a sweeping victory for the Greens.

The Mancunian and the Greens celebrated the party’s first-ever by-election win as the results were counted, giving her a lead of 4,402 votes.

While Labour, for whom the loss behind both Greens and Reform was the ultimate nightmare, will begin the painful process of licking their wounds, the spotlight is on Hannah.

Here is a deep dive into her background and life.

Where is Hannah Spencer from?

Hannah Spencer was born in Bolton, a town northwest of Manchester City, which forms part of Greater Manchester.

She left school at 16 and took a stint at a sixth form before dropping out and finding her vocation.

Her current home is in Trafford, where she reportedly owns two homes in the Altrincham and Sale West area, one of which she bought with her former partner.

Earlier, Spencer has reportedly lived in Levenshulme, which is part of Gorton and Denton constituency.

Is she really a plumber?

Yes, she has worked in the trades for years and owns her business, Hannah’s Household Plumbing.

She reportedly became a plumber around 2008 and she went on to earn a National Vocational Qualification in the profession from Bolton College.

She has also completed an NVQ in gas engineering, and started a plastering course in the new year.

Spencer has shared about her work online and talked about the stereotypes she has come across as a woman in the industry.

During her victory speech this morning, she joked about having to ‘cancel the work’ that has been booked.

She said: ‘Now, to my customers, I’m sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you haven’t booked in, because I’m heading to parliament.’

When did she get into politics?

Spencer, who is a dog lover and proud owner of four rescue greyhounds, got into politics because of the animals and her passion to have dog racing banned.

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And her political career and experience of elections has quickly mounted since.

After joining the Greens in 2022, she was elected as a local councillor for the Hale ward in Trafford the following year.

And in 2024, she was already eyeing up the Greater Manchester mayoral job held by Andy Burnham. She entered the race as Green Party’s candidate and finished fifth with almost 46,000 votes.

Last month, she was officially selected as the Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton to challenge Labour and Reform, who many predicted would compete for the election win.

What does she stand for?

Spencer pitched her campaign on politicians being genuinely relatable, andbeing against hate and division, which she has accused right-wing parties like Reform of sowing.

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campaigned for the rights of workers and women, including trans women, and the people of Gaza.

Her ‘number one priority’ in the by-election was to ‘cut the cost of living’ and ‘fight between hope and hate.’

She said during the race: ‘We need more people from all backgrounds in the places where decisions are made.’

Spencer has also been vocal about opposing the far right and calling out Islamophobia.

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In her election victory speech, she said: ‘I won’t accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society.

‘My Muslim friends and neighbours are just like me, human.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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MORE: After this by-election disaster, Keir Starmer might not know which way to turn

MORE: What is family voting? Concerns raised during Gorton and Denton by-election

MORE: Labour brands Gorton and Denton by-election result as ‘clearly disappointing’

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The following article contains spoilers from the episode of Emmerdale dated February 27. It hasn’t aired on ITV1 yet, but can be viewed on ITVX.

Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has disappeared again in Emmerdale after almost killing another resident.

The beloved character seriously struggled yesterday, as the exhaustion he’s been feeling ever since he returned from the farm began to completely consume him.

Bear had struggled to sleep the night before as he was experiencing pain in his arm, and was also processing attending Ray Walters’ (Joe Absolom) burial.

He took himself off to the doctors to try and get some more painkillers from Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker). However, due to the fact she knew Ray had given Bear opioids over a long period of time on the farm, Manpreet said that he couldn’t have any.

Instead, she told Bear to book another meeting with his counsellor, and that he could take over the counter medication instead.

This didn’t feel good enough for Bear, so he took off and got drunk instead. With the dark cloud looming over him, Bear punched a mirror in anger, injuring his hand in the process.

Bear wrapped his hand up and went to the hospital, believing he could get the painkillers he’s been craving from there.

When he arrived, Bear’s frustration grew as a staff member behind the desk explained he needed to wait to be seen.

Multiple doctors and nurses, including Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant), were busy dealing with Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy), who had been rushed into hospital after Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke) pushed her over.

When Jacob was finished with Laurel, he found Bear in the corridor, continuously talking about how he needed some medication, and that he was desperate for sleep.

Due to Jacob’s current position as a doctor, he isn’t allowed to prescribe medication on his own. His colleagues were still preoccupied, so Jacob attempted to help Bear by taking him to a quiet room.

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Unfortunately, by this point, Bear’s delusion had taken over and he was, once again, unable to communicate properly with anyone. He grabbed Jacob in the same wrestling hold he had Ray in before he killed him, unaware of how much he was hurting Jacob.

Jacob only saved himself in this situation because he kicked a trolley over and the loud noise startled Bear. As he snapped back into reality, Bear was horrified at what he had done.

Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) and Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) arrived, and gently explained to Bear that the police were on their way.

The thought of going back to prison completely terrified Bear and later, Paddy and Mandy realised he had disappeared.

As Paddy panicked, we saw Bear wandering through the middle of the city.

It’s the middle of the night, it’s cold, and Bear is all alone.

Who will find him?

MORE: Bear’s ordeal consumes him in Emmerdale as he lashes out in devastating act

MORE: Jacob’s excruciating ordeal in Emmerdale as bullying boss closes in

MORE: Bear left in worst possible state in Emmerdale – and the police are ready to finish him

Passport holders have been told to take action or they could risk being turned away at airports. Something could prevent you from being able to travel if you fail to follow the advice

We all like the idea of jetting off to a hot country but, before you make any plans, you may want to take action as passport holders have been issued essential guidance. If you’re planning to travel any time soon, or have a holiday booked this summer, urgent attention is required as it could impact your trip.

The advice was recently drawn attention to by Kylie, known as englandandeverywhere on TikTok, as she often shares handy travel tips with her thousands of followers. In a recent video, she focused on passports, and issued an important warning as a certain rule could end up catching people out.

It’s not the only advice on air travel to be shared recently either. A few weeks ago, travellers were also encouraged to make another important passport check.

Kylie said: “This is your annual reminder that, if you still have a red passport and you renewed it before October 2018, you may have been issued a passport that’s valid for longer for 10 years and, if you plan on going to the EU, you may have to check that it’s actually valid for travel.

“The EU has two requirements for entry. The issue date has to be less than 10 years, but then it also needs three months from the expiry date.

“If we look at the dates in my old passport, it was issued in September 2015, and it has an expiry date of June 2026. So, if we take the three months from June 2026, that means it comes out to about March 2026, which is still a month away but, with the issue date being September 2015, I couldn’t actually enter the EU on this passport from September last year.

“Now this is only an EU requirement. A lot of the other countries around the world don’t care about the issue date, and only go from the expiry date but, even then, every country has different requirements.

“For example, Turkey want 150 days from the expiry, but places like Thailand want six months. It’s always good to get into the habit of checking Gov.uk before you go anywhere.

“It gives you all of the information as to what the passport requirements are there. Especially with the EU, with their entry systems coming up, it will give you all the information on there as to when those come into effect.”

Kylie said, no matter where you’re travelling, it’s always important to check the issue date. According to her, people could be having to check their old passports for over two more years.

She pointed out that nobody wants to go to the airport only to be “turned away”, so it’s a task worth completing. It’s vital people act now to avoid disappointment further down the line.

What you need to know

As Kylie said, there are important passport rules you need to follow when travelling in the EU. Guidance for non-EU nationals has been detailed on the Your Europe website.

Advice states: “If you are a national from a country outside the EU wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a valid passport and possibly a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the EU, and it must have been issued within the last 10 years.

“This means your travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years the day you enter the EU on condition that it is valid until the end of your stay, plus an additional three months. Children and minors must have their own passport and visa, if required.”

Advice about other EU travel rules can be found on the website. If you’re travelling by plane, you should always check the country’s passport rules before you go, as they may differ depending on where you’re going.

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Pakistan has announced it is now in an “open war” with the Taliban-led Afghanistan government as it carried out major air strikes on Afghan cities overnight, escalating months of simmering border tensions between the Islamic neighbours.

The air and ground strikes in the early hours of Friday targeted Taliban military posts, headquarters and ammunition depots in multiple sectors along the border, just hours after the Taliban launched an air attack on Pakistan’s border forces.

Both sides have reported heavy losses in the fighting with Pakistan saying it has killed 133 Afghan Taliban fighters and wounded more than 200, with 27 posts destroyed and nine captured, following months of tit-for-tat clashes.

Taliban’s chief spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 posts seized, while eight Taliban fighters were killed, 11 wounded and 13 civilians injured in Nangarhar province.

Pakistani defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, confirmed the aerial raid and said, “Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan).”

The Taliban government and Pakistan have been engaged in a diplomatic and military confrontation for months now despite a ceasefire in October last year. The tensions worsened over the weekend after Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan last weekend, in which 13 civilians were killed, according to the UN data.

Earlier, border clashes between the two countries killed dozens of soldiers in October until negotiations facilitated by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia ceased the hostilities and a fragile ceasefire was put in place.

Pakistan’s military launched air raids inside Afghanistan in the early hours on 22 February, targeting what officials described as “camps and hideouts” linked to armed groups blamed for a recent wave of attacks, including a deadly suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s ministry of information and broadcasting said the armed forces carried out “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven sites associated with the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and its affiliates.

The ministry added that the Isis affiliate in Khorasan province, which claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the capital earlier this month, was also targeted.

Afghanistan’s ministry of defence condemned the strikes, saying they hit a religious school and residential homes in the eastern border provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, causing dozens of deaths and injuries, including among women and children.

Calling the raids a violation of international law and “the principles of good neighbourliness”, the Afghan defence ministry said it would respond. “We hold the Pakistani military responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites. We will respond to these attacks in due course with a measured and appropriate response,” it said.

The strikes risk undermining a tenuous ceasefire between the South Asian neighbours, brokered after deadly border clashes in October last year left dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected fighters dead.

Pakistan said it has repeatedly called on Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to curb armed groups operating from Afghan soil, but that Kabul has failed to “undertake any substantive action”.

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While asserting that Pakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region”, the statement stressed that the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remains its foremost priority.

In October, the two countries declared a ceasefire after several days of intense border fighting that left dozens dead on both sides and sharply escalated regional tensions.

What sparked the latest clashes?

Pakistan’s cross-border strikes followed a string of high-profile attacks at home. Just hours earlier, a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.

Earlier, last week, a suicide attacker, supported by gunmen, drove an explosives-filled vehicle into the wall of a security post in nearby Bajaur. The assault killed 11 soldiers and a child. Officials later identified the bomber as an Afghan national.

On 6 February, a suicide attacker set off explosives during midday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan neighbourhood, leaving at least 31 worshippers dead and 170 injured.

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The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the Islamabad bombing.

In Islamabad, security analyst Abdullah Khan suggested that the Pakistani strikes indicate that Qatari, Turkish, and even Saudi-led mediations have failed to resolve tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “These strikes are likely to further escalate the situation,” he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Is Pakistan employing a new deterrence framework?

Last year in October, analysts noted that Pakistan was finding it increasingly hard to overlook the rising fatalities caused by attacks that it claims are launched from Afghan soil.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think-tank, more than 2,400 members of Pakistan’s security forces had been killed in the first nine months of 2025 alone, putting the country on track for its deadliest year in a decade.

Attacks had surged since the removal of former prime minister Imran Khan a few years ago. Khan’s administration had worked with the Taliban to negotiate a TTP ceasefire. While that truce collapsed during his tenure, the frequency of assaults remained comparatively lower.

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Relations worsened further as Islamabad increasingly carried out airstrikes within Afghan territory, targeting locations it said were used by TTP fighters. Analysts point to the uptick in TTP attacks on Pakistani forces as the primary trigger for the recent border clashes.

They believed that Islamabad was attempting to establish a new deterrence framework, signalling that any assault perceived to originate from Afghanistan, whether carried out by the TTP or other armed groups, will trigger consequences for Kabul.

“Any attack which emanates from Afghanistan will be responded [to] with [the] same ferocity on their territory, with Pakistan implying that [the] Afghan Taliban are facilitating such attacks in Pakistan, and thus are legitimate targets,” Abdul Basit, a scholar at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera, at the time.

Pakistan’s border regions have long been hotspots of conflict, dating back to 1979 when the country became a frontline state in the US-backed war against the then Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

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According to the defence analyst Abdullah Khan, who is also the managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the area’s instability worsened after the 9/11 attacks.

He told the Associated Press in October last year: “After the September 11 attacks, Pakistan’s tribal belt descended into chaos as the Afghan Taliban, al-Qaida and other groups operated from both sides of the border for attacks on Nato forces and Pakistani security forces.”

Tensions between the two neighbours are further compounded by Pakistan’s deportation of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees. Since the decades of conflict began, at least three million Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, creating additional friction between the two neighbours.

How have international leaders responded?

In October, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes drew concern from regional powers, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue to prevent escalation.

Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia all called for diplomacy to maintain regional stability and security.

India did not comment, though Pakistan is wary of New Delhi’s engagement with the Taliban, some observers note.

Saudi Arabia’s ministry of foreign affairs said in October: “The kingdom calls for restraint, avoiding escalation, and embracing dialogue and wisdom to contribute to reducing tensions and maintaining security and stability in the region.

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“The kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability and its continued commitment to ensuring security, which will achieve stability and prosperity for the brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples,” it added.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said at the time: “Our position is that both sides must exercise restraint,” and added that “stability” between the two countries “contributes to regional stability”.

Qatar’s ministry of foreign affairs also urged “both sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain the disputes in a way that helps reduce tension, avoids escalation, and contributes to regional peace and stability”.

China also called for safeguarding its citizens and investments, Russia urged both sides to exercise restraint, and US president Donald Trump suggested he could step in to help resolve the conflict.

How is India involved?

In October, the clashes coincided with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s first visit to India since the group returned to power.

Kabul-based analyst Ibraheem Bahiss of the International Crisis Group suggested that Muttaqi’s high-profile reception in India was “probably a factor in the ultimate decision by the Pakistan Army to escalate in the major way that we saw”.

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Following the visit, The Hindu reported that Pakistan summoned the Afghan ambassador to express its “strong reservations” regarding the India-Afghanistan joint statement, in which both countries “unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries”.

From the mid-1990s until recent years, India had regarded the Taliban as a proxy for Pakistan’s intelligence services, holding the group and its allies responsible for deadly assaults on Indian diplomatic missions in Afghanistan.

However, following the Taliban’s return to power and amid growing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, India has pursued a series of diplomatic engagements with the new Afghan leadership, culminating in Mr Muttaqi’s visit.

“Pakistani media has been furious over Muttaqi’s visit to India,” Afghan content creator Pathan Bhai said in a video, according to India Today.

What were the official responses to the clashes?

Afghanistan’s defence ministry denounced the attacks as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and a breach of international law, stating that “an appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time”.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry said it had summoned Pakistan’s ambassador over what it described as violations of Afghan airspace and the targeting of civilians, labelling the strikes “a provocative act”.

What happens next?

Although TTP’s presence remains a key irritant for Pakistan, analysts believe the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes are unlikely to escalate into a larger conflict. Afghanistan lacks conventional military strength compared with Pakistan, and both sides appear focused on de-escalation at the moment.

However, the border is expected to stay tense for the foreseeable future, as Pakistan has signalled it will continue taking action against militants it claims are crossing from Afghanistan to target its security forces.