Overview of the border clash and claims
In a provocative escalation along the Durand Line, the Taliban government announced that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Saturday night clashes with Afghan forces. The announcement, carried by Afghanistan’s Tolo News, also reported that 9 Taliban fighters were killed and 16 were wounded in the fighting. The clashes mark one of the most direct and lethal confrontations between Kabul and Islamabad since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Taliban response and warning to Pakistan
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, stated that Afghan forces are “fully prepared to defend” the country’s borders and that the Afghan military delivered a “resolute response” to what Kabul described as repeated transgressions by Pakistan. The defense minister, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, emphasized that Afghanistan would not leave any attack unanswered and vowed a heightened state of readiness along the Durand Line.
Where the fighting occurred
According to official sources, the operation targeted multiple border areas, including districts in Helmand, Kandahar, Paktika, Khost, Paktia, Zabul, Nangarhar, and Kunar provinces. Afghanistan’s defence ministry reported that the operation had concluded by midnight, and Afghan forces reportedly captured three Pakistani security posts in the Bahramcha district near the Durand Line.
Impact on cross-border movement
The flare-up prompted Pakistan to close its main border crossings with Afghanistan on Sunday. Reuters cited officials noting the closure of Torkham and Chaman, along with three smaller routes at Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan. The border closures, coupled with heightened rhetoric, risk further disrupting trade and daily cross-border travel that underpins local economies on both sides of the frontier.
Is there a broader strategic context?
The Taliban government’s stance comes as Pakistan has pressed Kabul to curb the presence of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) on Afghan soil. Pakistan has long accused TTP factions of launching attacks inside Pakistan since 2021. While Pakistan has not publicly claimed responsibility for recent strikes, it has repeatedly urged Kabul to take action against TTP safe havens, complicating an already fragile relationship between the two neighbors.
Diplomatic backdrop and regional dynamics
Across the region, tensions have been high as Afghanistan’s foreign ministry issued statements while its leadership engages in diplomatic movements, including senior-level travel in the region. The current standoff comes as Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is on a week-long visit to India, highlighting Kabul’s ongoing attempts to balance regional diplomacy with domestic security imperatives.
What’s next?
With security forces on high alert along the Durand Line, both sides face pressure to de-escalate. Analysts suggest that Pakistan may seek to preserve influence over border regions while avoiding a broader confrontation, whereas Afghanistan appears intent on demonstrating its border sovereignty and deterrence capability. The coming days will likely reveal whether the border closures and sharp rhetoric translate into sustained military or diplomatic actions.
Key takeaways
- Taliban claims 58 Pakistani soldiers killed; 9 Taliban fighters dead; 16 injured.
- Afghanistan vows decisive action to defend its borders and airspace.
- Pakistan closes major border crossings with Afghanistan amid rising tensions.
- The dispute centers on militant groups operating along the Durand Line and cross-border militancy concerns.
