Intense clashes erupted along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border last night after an attack by the Taliban on Pakistani military posts. This escalation comes after a Pakistani airstrike in Kabul this week, as reported by security officials from both nations. Taliban forces launched armed reprisals against Pakistani troops, alleging that Islamabad had conducted airstrikes on Afghan territory, according to senior Taliban officials. They claimed to have seized two Pakistani border posts in the southern province of Helmand, which was confirmed by local authorities.
Pakistani security officials acknowledged clashes at several border locations, stating they were responding forcefully. On Thursday, two explosions were reported in the Afghan capital and another in southeastern Afghanistan. The Taliban-run defence ministry subsequently accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty in connection with the attacks. While Islamabad has not explicitly claimed responsibility for the attacks, it has called on Kabul to cease harbouring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The TTP is accused of killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021 and is believed to have received combat training in Afghanistan, sharing ideological ties with the Afghan Taliban. Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been strained in recent months due to Islamabad’s accusations that Kabul is harbouring TTP, which carried out attacks on Pakistan. The two countries share a nearly 2,600 km rugged and mountainous border known as the Durand Line.
