Afghanistan reported on Sunday that it had eliminated 58 Pakistani soldiers during border operations conducted overnight, citing repeated incursions into its airspace and territory as the reason. Earlier in the week, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in Kabul and an eastern market without claiming responsibility for the attacks. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, disclosed that Afghan forces had seized 25 Pakistani army posts, resulting in 58 fatalities and 30 injuries among Pakistani soldiers.
Mujahid emphasized at a press conference in Kabul that all official borders and de facto lines in Afghanistan were under strict control, with illegal activities being largely thwarted. There was no immediate response from Pakistan regarding the reported casualties. Previous Pakistani military actions in Afghanistan have targeted alleged militant hideouts in remote mountainous regions, with past skirmishes occurring along the border. The intense clashes on Saturday night underscored the escalating tensions between the two nations.
The Taliban’s Defense Ministry announced early Sunday that its forces had conducted successful retaliatory operations along the border and affirmed readiness to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity against future violations. Notably, the Torkham border crossing, a vital trade route between the two countries, did not open as scheduled on Sunday. Similarly, the Chaman crossing in southwest Pakistan remained closed, with people, including Afghan refugees departing from Pakistan, being turned away due to heightened security concerns.
Amidst the escalating conflict, regional powers have urged for calm. Pakistan accuses Afghan authorities of sheltering members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group, attributing deadly attacks within Pakistan to this group. On the other hand, Kabul denies these allegations, asserting its commitment to prevent its territory from being used against other nations. The recent border clashes could exacerbate regional instability, reminiscent of the tense Indo-Pak relations earlier this year following a deadly incident in Kashmir.
Furthermore, India’s deepening ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban government, including upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy, have added complexity to the regional dynamics. Saudi Arabia advocated for dialogue and restraint to de-escalate tensions in the region, especially considering its recent defense pact with Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault on Afghanistan but praised the response from Pakistan’s army, claiming to have destroyed Afghan posts in retaliation.
Allegedly, Afghan forces initiated the conflict by opening fire in northwestern border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as per Pakistani security officials. Pakistan reportedly seized control of 19 Afghan border posts from where attacks originated, resulting in the elimination or flight of Taliban personnel. The ongoing conflict highlights the longstanding dispute over the Durand Line, a 2,611-kilometer border that Afghanistan has never acknowledged.