Intense overnight clashes between Afghan security forces and Pakistani border troops along the shared frontier were reportedly halted at midnight on Saturday following diplomatic intervention by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, though the situation remains highly volatile.
The cross-border fighting, which saw a major escalation of tensions between the two neighbors, was described by the Afghan Taliban government as a retaliatory operation for what it termed “repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace” by Pakistan earlier in the week.
Conflicting Casualty Figures
The skirmishes, which involved firing on multiple border posts, resulted in significant casualties on both sides according to Kabul. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated on Sunday that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 others wounded in the operations. Mujahid also claimed Afghan forces had occupied 25 Pakistani army posts. In comparison, the Afghan side suffered nine soldiers killed and 16 injured in the overnight fighting.
The claims regarding Pakistani casualties and post occupations could not be independently verified, and Pakistan has not released a separate official casualty figure.
Border Shut Down
In response to the hostilities, Pakistan announced on Sunday that it had closed down all border crossings with Afghanistan. The closure immediately affects vital trade and transit routes, underscoring the severity of the security crisis.
The flare-up followed accusations from Afghan officials earlier in the week that Pakistan had conducted airstrikes, including bombings in the capital, Kabul, and a marketplace in the eastern part of the country. Pakistan has consistently refused to acknowledge any role in those alleged incidents.
Spokesperson Mujahid confirmed on Sunday that the military operations against Pakistan were ceased at midnight after the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar successfully intervened to mediate and de-escalate the situation. The diplomatic efforts from the Gulf nations seek to pull the two nuclear-armed states back from the brink of a broader conflict.