Afghanistan Claims Killing 58 Pakistani Soldiers in Border Clashes

Digital Desk

In a major escalation along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, Afghanistan’s Taliban government claimed that its forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured 25 military posts during overnight clashes on Saturday. The Taliban said the operation was carried out in retaliation for what it described as Pakistan’s aerial violation of Afghan territory.

According to Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, at least 30 other Pakistani soldiers were injured in the confrontation. The Afghan Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation concluded by midnight, warning that any future violation of Afghan airspace or territory would be met with a “decisive response.”

Afghan officials also accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes on Kabul and an eastern marketplace, though Islamabad has not acknowledged responsibility for the attacks.

Taliban Blames Pakistan for Harboring ISIS Fighters

At a press briefing on Sunday, Mujahid accused Pakistan of giving safe haven to ISIS militants, calling them a threat not only to Afghanistan but to global security.

He alleged that while Afghanistan had rooted out terrorism within its borders, new ISIS bases were now operating in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Mujahid further claimed that fighters were being brought in through Karachi and Islamabad airports, trained in these bases, and later used to plan attacks in Iran and Russia.

“We have cleared our country of instability. Now the threat is being exported from across the border,” Mujahid said.

Pakistan Warns of Retaliation

Pakistan’s Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi responded by warning Kabul of a strong counteraction, saying Islamabad would respond firmly “as it did with India.”
According to Dawn, the Pakistani Army claimed to have recaptured 19 Afghan border posts seized during the fighting.

Officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported that Afghan forces attacked from six different border locations, prompting heavy Pakistani artillery fire in retaliation. During the clashes, Pakistan reportedly shot down three Afghan drones suspected of carrying explosives.

International Reactions

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran have expressed concern over the escalating violence and urged both sides to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that regional peace and stability depend on cooperation and restraint, while Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its support for peaceful engagement between the two neighbours.

Background: The Airstrike and Rising Tensions

On October 9, airstrikes targeted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Kabul, which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan. Though Islamabad did not confirm the strikes, it warned Kabul against harbouring TTP militants.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi later hit back, saying:

“Pakistan should stop playing games with us. Ask Britain and the US — they’ll tell you it’s not wise to provoke Afghanistan.”

The TTP Factor

Formed in 2007 by Baitullah Mehsud, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) unites 13 militant factions primarily targeting the Pakistani state and military.
The group has strong ideological and operational ties with the Afghan Taliban.
The US has warned that TTP’s growing influence could endanger Pakistan’s nuclear security.
The group thrives on Pashtun grievances, poverty, and unemployment, especially in tribal regions.

A History of Border Disputes

The two neighbours have long been at odds over the Durand Line, the colonial-era boundary dividing Pashtun communities. Both countries frequently accuse each other of harbouring militants and conducting cross-border attacks.

Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, tensions have intensified, with each side blaming the other for terrorism and destabilization along the border.