Afghan forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight border clashes, accusing Pakistan of violating its airspace and territory.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan troops also captured 25 Pakistani army posts and wounded 30 soldiers.
He stated that Afghan forces had “full control” over official borders and had largely stopped illegal crossings and activities.
Earlier in the week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing Kabul and an eastern marketplace, though Pakistan denied involvement.
The Taliban Defence Ministry said its troops launched “retaliatory and successful operations” after what it called repeated violations.
It warned that any future incursions would trigger an immediate and forceful response from Afghan forces.
Pakistan Rejects Claims and Issues Counterattack
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Afghan attack, saying his army “gave a befitting reply” and destroyed several posts.
Pakistani officials shared videos showing alleged Afghan checkpoints in ruins, though independent verification remains impossible due to restricted access.
Islamabad said its military neutralised over 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists,” with many more wounded in the clashes.
Officials reported that Afghan forces opened fire across several border areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province overnight.
Regional Tensions Rise Amid Mutual Accusations
Pakistan continues to accuse Afghanistan of sheltering members of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, which it blames for deadly attacks.
Kabul denies harbouring militants and insists it prevents any use of its land against neighbouring countries.
Pakistan, meanwhile, faces growing militancy in its border regions and often blames both Kabul and New Delhi for instability.
The renewed clashes threaten to heighten tensions in a region already on edge after near-conflict between India and Pakistan earlier this year.
Both nations now face mounting pressure to de-escalate as fears of wider regional unrest increase.
