A severe military confrontation has erupted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier, with both governments claiming significant casualties following a night of intense fighting, marking one of the most serious escalations since the Taliban’s return to power.
The clashes, which began late Saturday, were initiated by Afghan Taliban forces. A spokesperson for the Taliban government described the offensive as a “retaliatory measure” for what it termed unauthorized Pakistani air operations over Kabul earlier in the week. While Pakistan’s government has not formally acknowledged conducting those strikes, it has consistently asserted its right to self-defense against militant groups it claims are operating from Afghan territory.
Conflicting casualty figures were released by the opposing sides. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and approximately 30 wounded, admitting to nine losses within their own ranks. In a starkly different account, the Pakistani military reported 23 of its soldiers killed while claiming to have neutralized over 200 Taliban and affiliated fighters. These figures remain unverified by independent sources.
Amid the turmoil, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, speaking from a diplomatic visit to India, declared the “situation is under control.” He credited third-party nations, specifically naming Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with successfully appealing for a cessation of hostilities, which he said had been honored.
The incident underscores a rapidly deteriorating relationship. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement condemning what he called “provocations” from Afghanistan, vowing that “every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response.” He directly accused the Taliban administration of permitting its territory to be used by “terrorist elements.”
The timing of the conflict is diplomatically significant, coinciding with the first official visit of Afghanistan’s foreign minister to India since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover. Analysts suggest this warming relationship may be a contributing factor to the current tensions. “The growing ties between Kabul and New Delhi have clearly angered Pakistan and pushed Islamabad towards a more aggressive posture,” commented Wahid Faqiri, an Afghan international relations expert.
The core of the dispute lies in the activities of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a separate but ideologically aligned group that Islamabad alleges operates with impunity from Afghan soil. A recent United Nations report lent credence to these claims, noting the TTP receives “substantial logistical and operational support” from the Afghan Taliban. Militant attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have surged, making this year one of the deadliest in over a decade for Pakistani security forces.
Following the clashes, key border crossings, including the vital Torkham gateway, were shut down. Officials reported a deployment of additional troops to the area, though no further fighting was reported by Sunday morning. As former Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi noted, while violence has “plunged relations between the neighbours to an all-time low,” a return to diplomacy will ultimately be necessary to resolve the confrontation.