A fierce overnight clash between Afghan and Pakistani forces along the border has escalated tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Kabul claimed on Sunday that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 others wounded in the fighting, while Islamabad asserted it had captured 19 Afghan border outposts during the confrontation.
The violence marks a sharp escalation following Pakistan’s reported airstrikes in Kabul earlier this week, which the Taliban administration condemned as a violation of Afghan sovereignty.
According to a post on social media platform X by Afghan news outlet TOLO News, citing Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, a large cache of Pakistani weapons has fallen into Taliban hands. Mujahid also confirmed that more than 20 Taliban fighters were killed or wounded in the clashes.
Pakistan has yet to issue an official response to Kabul’s casualty claims.
Earlier on Sunday morning, Taliban officials said their forces launched retaliatory attacks across Pakistan’s Kunar and Helmand border regions, capturing three Pakistani military posts. Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarazmi stated that the Taliban’s “successful retaliatory operation” was conducted in response to repeated Pakistani airspace violations and strikes on Afghan soil, adding that the operation concluded around midnight.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s state-run media offered a sharply different narrative. Quoting security sources, it reported that Pakistani troops had seized 19 Afghan border outposts after Afghan fighters were either killed or fled the area.
Footage broadcast by Pakistan Television (PTV) showed fires burning at Afghan positions in the Kurram region, with several Taliban soldiers reportedly surrendering. Citing security sources, Radio Pakistan reported that the Pakistani army destroyed Taliban installations, including the Manojba Camp Battalion Headquarters, Zandusur Post, Turkmanzai Camp, and Kharchar Fort. The broadcaster added that Pakistani forces carried out “highly precise strikes” on militant strongholds near the frontier.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Afghan forces of opening fire on civilians, calling it a “blatant violation of international law.” He said the attacks were “unprovoked” and warned that Pakistan would not tolerate any aggression. “Our brave forces have responded swiftly and effectively,” Naqvi declared.
The latest border violence comes just two days after airstrikes in Kabul that the Taliban blamed on Pakistan. While Islamabad has denied any involvement, it has accused the Taliban administration of harboring fighters from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group seeking to topple the Pakistani government and establish an Islamist regime—with alleged backing from India.
New Delhi has rejected those allegations, while the Taliban maintains that Afghan territory is not being used for attacks against other countries.
