Kabul/Islamabad — Afghanistan’s Taliban administration says its forces launched a “revenge operation” along the frontier with Pakistan, claiming 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 25 border posts seized overnight. Pakistan acknowledged fierce exchanges but disputed the toll, saying around 23 Pakistani troops were killed while its forces destroyed multiple Afghan positions in retaliation. Independent verification remains limited as communications from several frontier sectors are restricted.
What each side says
- Taliban account: The Taliban government’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan units carried out “retaliatory and successful” operations after repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace, capturing dozens of Pakistani posts and inflicting heavy casualties.
- Pakistan’s account: Islamabad said Afghan fighters attacked its positions first, prompting counter-fire that destroyed several Afghan posts and killed “scores” of Taliban-aligned combatants. Pakistan’s casualty figure stood at 23 soldiers on Sunday, far below Kabul’s claim.
Flashpoint and backdrop
The overnight fighting followed a week of rapid escalation. Afghan officials accused Pakistan of air or drone strikes in Kabul and the country’s east targeting leaders of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP); Pakistan has not publicly claimed those strikes, but local and regional reporting described unprecedented attacks aimed at senior TTP figures.
Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of harboring TTP militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan—allegations Kabul denies. The dispute is compounded by historic friction over the Durand Line and frequent clashes between border units.
Situation on the ground
- Crossings shut: Pakistan closed key trade routes at Torkham and Chaman (and several minor points), disrupting the movement of goods and people; intermittent fire continued in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even after the heaviest clashes subsided.
- Territory contested: Reports diverge on how many posts changed hands; claims of captures and recaptures were made by both sides through Sunday.
- Casualty uncertainty: Numbers remain contested; wire services and regional outlets carried conflicting tallies through the day. Expect revisions as official statements firm up.
Regional reaction
Calls for restraint came from regional actors, including Gulf states, amid concern that the flare-up could spiral and further strain already fragile economic and humanitarian channels between the neighbors. Analysts warn cycles of strike-and-reprisal could persist in the absence of a de-confliction mechanism and third-party facilitation.
Why this matters
- Security risk: A prolonged firefight on one of South Asia’s most volatile borders complicates both countries’ counter-militancy priorities and risks spillover into populated frontier districts.
- Economic impact: The closure of Torkham/Chaman hits bilateral trade and Afghan transit imports—fuel, food, and medical supplies—at a sensitive time for both economies.
What to watch next
- Revised casualty/position counts from both capitals.
- Reopening timelines for Torkham and Chaman, or emergency arrangements for perishable goods.
- Any mediation move—from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the UN—to set up hotline-style de-confliction on the border.
- Signals on TTP: whether Islamabad and Kabul announce joint steps—or trade new accusations—regarding TTP presence and cross-border attacks.
