ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 – Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border erupted into deadly violence late Saturday, leaving dozens dead in one of the most intense cross-border confrontations since the Taliban seized control of Kabul in 2021. Both sides traded heavy fire through the night, resulting in significant casualties and prompting Pakistan to seal all major border crossings.
According to Pakistan’s military officials, at least 23 soldiers were killed in the overnight clashes, while the Taliban government reported that nine of its fighters lost their lives. Each country claimed to have inflicted far heavier losses on the other, though the figures could not be independently verified. Pakistan stated that more than 200 Afghan fighters were killed, while Afghanistan reported the deaths of 58 Pakistani soldiers.
The fierce fighting reflects a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighboring countries, which share a 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) border. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban to curb militant groups allegedly using Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan, an accusation Kabul continues to deny.
Airstrikes and Retaliation
The violence was sparked by Pakistani airstrikes on Thursday that reportedly targeted areas in Kabul and a marketplace in eastern Afghanistan. While Pakistani authorities have not officially acknowledged the strikes, security officials confirmed the operations were aimed at militants believed to be planning cross-border attacks.
The Taliban administration in Kabul condemned the bombings, calling them a violation of Afghan sovereignty. In retaliation, Afghan forces launched a series of coordinated assaults on Pakistani border posts late Saturday, triggering a night of heavy exchanges involving artillery and automatic weapons.
Pakistani military officials said their forces responded with “effective and precise” gunfire and artillery strikes, destroying several Afghan military positions. They also shared video footage that purportedly showed Afghan posts being hit during the operation. Kabul, however, claimed that it had successfully neutralized multiple Pakistani posts in return, underscoring the escalating tit-for-tat pattern that has come to define relations between the two sides.
By early Sunday morning, most of the cross-border shelling had subsided, though intermittent gunfire continued in Pakistan’s Kurram tribal district. Local residents reported hearing explosions and small-arms fire throughout the night, forcing many families to flee the area for safety. Officials in Kurram said several homes near the frontier were damaged, but civilian casualties were not immediately confirmed.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry later announced that its military operations had concluded at midnight local time. Kabul’s decision to halt the attacks reportedly came following requests from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both of which expressed concern over the border violence and urged restraint.
“The Islamic Emirate and the people of Afghanistan will defend their land with full resolve,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement on Sunday. “However, our leadership has decided to suspend operations temporarily in light of the appeals made by our brotherly nations.” Mujahid added that isolated skirmishes were still taking place in certain areas near the border.
Border Closure and Rising Regional Tensions
In response to the escalating hostilities, Pakistan on Sunday shut down all major crossings along the Durand Line, the disputed border demarcated by the British in 1893. The closures affected the two busiest crossings, Torkham and Chaman, as well as smaller routes at Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan. Officials said the move was necessary to prevent further incursions and ensure security along the frontier.
The closure of these crossings is expected to disrupt the movement of thousands of people and halt trade between the two countries, dealing a blow to border communities that rely heavily on cross-border commerce. Truck convoys carrying goods were reportedly stranded on both sides, while travelers were turned back by border guards amid heightened security.
This latest confrontation comes at a time of growing diplomatic strain. Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of harboring militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that has intensified attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months. The Taliban government in Kabul continues to reject these allegations, insisting that it does not allow any group to use Afghan territory to attack other countries.
The timing of the Pakistani airstrikes has also drawn attention because they coincided with a rare diplomatic visit by Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to India. During the visit, India announced plans to enhance its engagement with the Taliban-led government, a move that reportedly unsettled officials in Islamabad. Given India’s historic rivalry with Pakistan, the visit was viewed by analysts as a signal of shifting regional alliances.
For now, both nations appear to be stepping back from large-scale confrontation, but tensions remain dangerously high. Security experts warn that unless meaningful dialogue resumes, the cycle of violence could continue, destabilizing the region further.
As of Sunday evening, Pakistani security forces remained on high alert along the frontier, while Afghan forces maintained fortified positions on their side. The situation underscores how fragile the relationship between the two neighbors has become, with mistrust deepening amid ongoing border conflicts and political friction.