Fierce border clashes have erupted between Afghan Taliban forces and the Pakistani military, leaving at least 58 Pakistani soldiers dead, according to Taliban officials. The Taliban claimed the attacks were a “retaliatory response” to what they described as Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory late last week.
Pakistan has disputed the casualty figures, acknowledging the death of 23 personnel while asserting that “around 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists have been neutralized.” The violence marks one of the deadliest escalations between Kabul and Islamabad in recent years.
According to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the strikes targeted multiple mountainous positions in the Kunar–Kurram border region. He said nine Taliban fighters were also killed and up to 18 others injured. Pakistan’s military reported 29 injured personnel on its side and accused Afghanistan of firing at civilian areas, calling it “a blatant violation of international law.”
Tensions intensified after Taliban officials accused Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and bombing a civilian market in Paktika province on Thursday. Islamabad denied the allegations, maintaining that its operations targeted “terrorist elements” using Afghan soil.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the Afghan attacks as “unprovoked,” warning Kabul of a “stone for every brick” response. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, currently on a diplomatic trip to India, defended the Taliban’s position: “Afghanistan has a right to keep its territory and its borders safe, and so it has retaliated to the violation.”
The firefight, which reportedly involved both small arms and artillery, spread across several flashpoints including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral and Baramcha. Witnesses in Kurram described intense gunfire starting around 22:00 local time.
The fallout is already disrupting regional trade. The two major crossings — Torkham and Chaman — have been closed, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded on both sides of the border.
The clash comes amid broader tensions over Pakistan’s repeated accusations that the Taliban allows the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) to operate from Afghan soil, a charge Kabul has consistently denied.
International voices are urging restraint. Saudi Arabia, which recently signed a defence pact with Pakistan, called for de-escalation. Qatar also expressed concern, urging both sides to prioritise diplomacy over military confrontation.
