KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban government of Afghanistan announced on Sunday that its forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured 25 army posts in a series of overnight retaliatory border operations, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two neighboring countries.
The Afghan Defense Ministry said its armed forces carried out “retaliatory and successful operations” following what it described as repeated violations of Afghanistan’s territory and airspace by Pakistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters in Kabul that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 wounded, and that Afghan forces now have “complete control” over official borders and de facto lines. Pakistan has not confirmed these casualty figures.
Earlier this week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in the country’s east, though Pakistan did not claim responsibility for the attacks. In response, Saturday night saw some of the heaviest cross-border clashes in recent years.
The situation has also impacted cross-border movement. The Torkham border crossing — one of the main trade routes — and the crossing at Chaman, southwest Pakistan, were both closed on Sunday morning, halting trade and stranding Afghan refugees attempting to return home. Witnesses in Spin Boldak reported hearing jets and seeing smoke after explosions overnight.
Regional Reactions and Escalation Concerns
Before Afghanistan announced its claimed death toll, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Afghan operations, stating that Pakistan’s military “gave a befitting reply” and destroyed several Afghan posts, forcing them to retreat. Pakistani security officials circulated videos allegedly showing destroyed Afghan checkposts, but these claims could not be independently verified.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement urging “restraint, avoidance of escalation and the adoption of dialogue and wisdom to help de-escalate tensions and maintain the security and stability of the region.” Saudi Arabia recently signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan, reportedly placing the kingdom under Islamabad’s nuclear umbrella following recent regional developments involving Israel and Qatar.
Qatar has also expressed concern over the growing hostilities.
According to Pakistani security officials, Afghan forces opened fire across several northwestern border areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Chitral, Bajaur, Mohmand, Angoor Adda and Kurram. Pakistani troops reportedly responded with heavy weaponry, particularly near Tirah in Khyber district and across the frontier in Nangarhar province.
The two countries share the Durand Line, a 2,611-kilometre (1,622-mile) border that Afghanistan has never officially recognized. Historical disputes over this boundary have contributed to long-standing tension, but the scale of this weekend’s clashes marks a significant and dangerous escalation.