Dozens killed in Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes
Dozens of fighters were killed in overnight border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, officials from both sides said Sunday, marking one of the deadliest escalations between the two neighbors in recent years.
Afghan officials claimed their forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during retaliatory operations late Saturday, while Pakistan’s military put the Afghan death toll at 23. The violence erupted after Pakistani airstrikes reportedly hit targets in Kabul and a marketplace in eastern Afghanistan earlier in the week.
Although Pakistan has not publicly acknowledged conducting airstrikes, Pakistani security officials and Taliban representatives confirmed that air raids took place on Thursday, triggering retaliatory attacks from Afghan forces.
According to Pakistan’s military, Afghan troops opened fire on several border posts late Saturday, prompting Pakistan to respond with “effective gun and artillery fire.” Afghan officials, however, described the fighting as a “retaliatory defense” against Pakistan’s repeated air incursions.
Enayatullah Khwarizmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense, said Taliban forces had carried out “successful retaliatory attacks” against Pakistani soldiers “in response to repeated violations” of Afghan sovereignty. He claimed Taliban fighters captured three Pakistani border posts during the clashes in Kunar and Helmand provinces.
Pakistani state media, meanwhile, reported that its forces had seized 19 Afghan border posts, citing unnamed security sources who said Taliban fighters stationed there were either killed or fled.
The escalating hostilities have drawn concern from regional powers. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran have each expressed willingness to mediate and prevent further escalation.
In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry urged both nations to “prioritize dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain disputes in a way that helps reduce tension and contributes to regional peace and stability.” The statement reiterated Qatar’s support for “all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and security,” and its commitment to “lasting stability and prosperity for the brotherly peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
The clashes underscore the growing volatility along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, where tensions have simmered over cross-border attacks, airstrikes, and Taliban accusations of Pakistani interference in Afghan affairs.
