Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated sharply after Taliban-led forces launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani soldiers late Saturday. The strikes, which took place along the shared border, were described by Afghanistan as a response to air raids carried out by the Pakistan Army on Kabul earlier in the week.
According to the Taliban government, 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and around 30 injured in the clashes, while nine Taliban fighters also lost their lives. Pakistan, however, reported a lower toll of 23 soldiers killed, claiming that more than 200 Taliban and allied fighters were neutralized in counterfire.
The violence prompted both nations to shut border crossings on Sunday, further straining bilateral relations. Hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed a “strong and effective” response, Taliban officials warned they had “other ways to handle the situation” if Islamabad refused to engage in dialogue.
The conflict comes amid growing distrust between the two neighbours. Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants responsible for cross-border attacks, while Kabul has rejected the allegations, asserting its right to defend its sovereignty.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi accused “certain sections” within Pakistan of trying to disrupt peace between the two nations. He also confirmed that mediation efforts by Qatar and Saudi Arabia helped de-escalate the conflict temporarily.
As of now, both sides have issued conflicting casualty figures, and independent verification remains unavailable. The situation marks one of the most serious escalations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.