Deadly cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan have left dozens of people — including civilians and troops — dead, according to multiple reports.
The fighting, which erupted on Tuesday night, marks the latest escalation along the volatile border between the two neighbouring nations.
Border Fighting Intensifies Overnight
Pakistan’s military said its forces retaliated after what it described as “unprovoked cross-border firing” by Afghan troops and local militants. According to the army’s statement, two coordinated assaults by Taliban fighters targeted key border posts in both the southwest and northwest regions.
The attacks, reportedly launched from villages near Spin Boldak in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, were repelled after intense fighting. “Unfortunately, the attack was orchestrated through divided villages in the area, with no regard for the safety of civilians,” Pakistan’s military said in a statement quoted by AFP.
Officials claimed that around 20 Taliban fighters were killed during the assaults, while 30 others may have died in overnight operations near the northwestern frontier.
Civilian Casualties Reported in Afghanistan
Afghan officials told AFP that 15 civilians, including women and children, were killed and dozens more injured during the clashes.
Ali Mohammad Haqmal, spokesperson for the local information department in Spin Boldak, said the casualties occurred due to mortar fire. The toll was also confirmed by Abdul Jan Barak, a district hospital official, who added that more than 80 people were being treated for injuries.
Retaliation and Accusations
According to Reuters, clashes in Pakistan’s border district of Orakzai killed six Pakistani paramilitary soldiers and injured several others.
In response, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Taliban government, accused Pakistan of “once again attacking Afghan territory with light and heavy weapons.”
Pakistan, however, said it acted in self-defence, launching “full-force” counterstrikes against Taliban positions in the Kurram region, killing multiple fighters and damaging their posts and equipment, including a tank, Bloomberg reported.
Rising Regional Tensions
The latest violence comes just days after deadly border exchanges last weekend, when Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes following alleged Pakistani air raids on Kabul on October 7.
While Afghan authorities claimed that their operations killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, Pakistan’s military reported 23 deaths on its side, saying it neutralised over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants in counterfire.
The border crossings between the two countries were temporarily closed on October 12 amid heightened tensions. Diplomatic sources told media outlets that Qatar and Saudi Arabia had to intervene to broker a temporary ceasefire.
Background and Outlook
For years, relations between Islamabad and Kabul have been strained over cross-border militancy, smuggling, and differing positions on counter-terrorism. The recent hostilities underscore how fragile the situation remains since the Taliban took power in 2021.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently vowed a “strong and proportional response” to any future attacks, while the Taliban warned it has “other ways to handle the situation if Pakistan does not want to engage in dialogue.”
As both sides trade accusations, the humanitarian toll continues to mount — with civilians once again caught in the crossfire.
