Deadly fighting broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, marking one of the most severe clashes in years between the neighboring countries. Early Wednesday, 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while Afghan authorities claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani forces in retaliation for alleged violations of Afghan sovereignty and airspace.
The conflict involved light and heavy weaponry, according to DPA reports. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan accused Afghan Taliban fighters of carrying out “cowardly attacks” on four locations in Spin Boldak, Balochistan,” and noted that fighters from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were also involved. ISPR stated that at least 20 militants were killed and many injured on the Afghan side.
“The situation on the ground shows that Afghan Taliban and TTP are massing forces. Every act of aggression against Pakistan will be met with full force,” ISPR said.
Similar attacks were reported overnight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kuram region, where at least 30 Afghan Taliban and TTP fighters were killed, and six Afghan tanks destroyed. TTP remains a banned terrorist organization in Pakistan.
On the Afghan side, Taliban spokesperson Zabihulah Mujahid accused Islamabad of initiating attacks in Spin Boldak, reporting over 12 civilian deaths and around 100 injuries. A hospital in Kandahar received more than 80 injured, including women and children, with 10–15 fatalities recorded.
The clashes follow weekend violence along the Durand Line, the disputed border, with both sides claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other.
