Pakistan and Afghanistan Clash in Deadliest Border Fighting in Years

Raging border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan have killed dozens of soldiers and militants, forced key trade crossings to close, and sent regional tensions soaring to their highest point in years .

The conflict erupted after Pakistan reportedly carried out airstrikes in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan on October 9, targeting hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group . The TTP is an Islamist group blamed for numerous deadly attacks inside Pakistan, and Islamabad has long accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering them .

In a dramatic retaliation on the night of October 11, Afghan Taliban forces launched a major attack on multiple Pakistani military posts along the contentious Durand Line, the 2,611-kilometer border that Afghanistan has never recognized . The fighting involved intense gunfire and ground raids, continuing into the morning of October 12 .

Both sides have made competing claims about the casualties inflicted.

| Claimant | Opposing Forces Killed | Own Forces Lost |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Afghan Taliban | 58 Pakistani soldiers | 9 fighters |

| Pakistan Military | ~200 "Taliban & affiliated terrorists" | 23 soldiers |

The cross-border strikes signal a new low in relations between the two neighbors. A Pakistani security analyst stated that the clashes are a "logical conclusion of the tensions that have been brewing," citing Kabul's "continuous refusal" to take action against the TTP . The situation remains volatile, with Pakistan's army chief visiting the frontline and the Prime Minister vowing a "strong retaliation" .

The economic and human impact was immediate. Pakistan's stock market (PSX) nosedived on October 13, with its benchmark index suffering its largest single-day fall in four months as investor sentiment was shattered by the geopolitical uncertainty . Key border crossings at Torkham and Chaman, vital for bilateral trade and travel, have been sealed, leaving hundreds of people, including Afghan refugees, stranded .

International calls for calm have grown. Foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have urged both sides to exercise restraint . While a ceasefire appeared to be holding as of October 13, the border remained closed for a second day, with no clarity on when it might reopen .