Afghanistan announced its troops killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight border battles following alleged territorial violations.
Officials in Kabul accused Pakistan of breaching Afghan airspace and striking inside its borders earlier in the week.
The Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Afghan fighters seized 25 Pakistani army posts and injured 30 soldiers.
Mujahid stated that Afghan forces fully control all border areas and have halted most illegal crossings and activities.
The Afghan Defence Ministry confirmed its troops launched “retaliatory and successful operations” across several border regions.
Officials warned Pakistan against future violations, promising a “powerful response” if Afghan sovereignty is challenged again.
Pakistan has previously targeted Afghan territories it claims hide militants, leading to repeated confrontations along the shared frontier.
Pakistan Blames Kabul for Militancy
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
Afghan leaders deny these claims and insist their territory will never be used to threaten other nations.
Pakistan continues to battle rising militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while also accusing India of aiding armed groups.
The renewed violence risks further destabilizing the region, especially after near-war tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year.
Competing Claims Intensify the Conflict
Before Kabul’s announcement, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Afghan “provocations,” claiming Pakistan’s army retaliated forcefully.
Sharif said Pakistani troops destroyed several Afghan posts and forced Taliban fighters to retreat.
Pakistan’s army later claimed to have “neutralized” over 200 Taliban and allied fighters, with many more injured.
Security officials reported Afghan troops fired across multiple border zones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Videos released by Pakistani sources allegedly show destroyed Afghan checkpoints, though independent media cannot verify the footage.
Both governments now stand on heightened alert, each blaming the other for escalating a volatile and deadly border conflict.
