Afghanistan Strikes Border Posts, Dozens Killed; Pakistan Retaliates

The coordinated attacks across various sections of the border come after months of escalating tensions, including repeated border skirmishes and Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.

Afghanistan attacked Pakistani forces on Thursday, claiming to have killed and captured dozens of soldiers in retaliation for deadly airstrikes a few days earlier.

The attacks come at several locations along the border following border clashes and Pakistani attacks on Afghanistan in recent months.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “In response to repeated violations by the Pakistani army, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations.”

The governor’s office and officials in Kunar province told AFP that military action was underway, while Afghan officials said armed forces were also operating in several other provinces.

Pakistan said the attack was being “responded to promptly and effectively.”

The ministry wrote on X that Taliban forces opened fire in several sectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and Pakistani troops responded “promptly and effectively,” inflicting heavy losses and destroying numerous posts and equipment.

Islamabad’s Information Ministry said Afghanistan opened “unprovoked fire” at several locations across the border in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

A Taliban government spokesman told AFP that Afghan forces had captured more than 15 Pakistani posts within two hours.

Mujahid said, “Dozens of (Pakistani) soldiers were killed, and we sent 10 bodies to Kunar and other areas. Many are injured, and several have been captured alive.”

There were no immediate reports of Afghan casualties.

Violence on the Border for Months

This military operation follows attacks in Pakistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces until Sunday night, in which the UN mission in Afghanistan said at least 13 civilians were killed.

The Taliban government said at least 18 people were killed and denied Pakistan’s statement that more than 80 militants were killed in the military operation.

Both sides also reported cross-border firing on Tuesday, but there were no casualties.

Relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated in recent months, with land border crossings largely closed since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.

Several rounds of talks followed an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but these efforts failed to yield a firm agreement.

Saudi Arabia intervened this month to broker the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October.

Islamabad has accused Afghanistan of failing to take action against militant groups carrying out attacks in Pakistan, a claim the Taliban government denies.

Pakistan’s military launched airstrikes in Afghanistan a few days ago following a series of deadly suicide bombings.

These included an attack on a Shia mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 40 people, and the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for it.

The terrorist group’s regional chapter, Islamic State-Khorasan, also claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing at a restaurant in Kabul last month.