Islamabad: Pakistan closed all border crossings with Afghanistan after deadly overnight clashes that resulted in both sides claiming to have killed dozens of troops.
According to France24.com, Islamabad frequently accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of harboring militants who launch attacks on Pakistan, allegations that Afghan officials deny. The two nations reported that they killed dozens of each other’s troops during a night of heavy border clashes.
Afghanistan’s Taliban forces attacked Pakistani troops along their shared border late on Saturday, citing the action as “retaliation for air strikes carried out by the Pakistani army on Kabul” on the preceding Thursday. Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the strikes but has consistently asserted its right to defend itself against increasing militancy that it claims is orchestrated from Afghan soil. The casualty figures from these incidents could not be independently verified.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi assured on Sunday that the “situation is under control”. He stated, “Our operation last night achieved its objectives,” and acknowledged interventions by nations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which called for a cessation of hostilities. An Afghan military unit described Thursday’s explosions in Kabul as “air strikes”, while a Taliban spokesperson characterized them as an “airspace violation”, noting no damage had been reported.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement on Sunday condemning Afghanistan’s “provocations”. He declared, “There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s defense, and every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response,” accusing the Taliban authorities of permitting their territory to be utilized by “terrorist elements”. The Afghan military confirmed that Taliban forces were involved in “heavy clashes against Pakistani security forces” in various regions.
Despite the escalation, several border security officials reported no further clashes at major crossings on Sunday morning. Key border crossings were closed, and additional troops were deployed to the Torkham border crossing, a crucial junction between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistani officials at Torkham, speaking anonymously, confirmed no casualties on their side and no further clashes in the area on Sunday morning.
The violence erupted while India hosted Afghanistan’s foreign minister for the first time since the Taliban’s resurgence. Wahid Faqiri, an Afghan international relations expert, noted that the warming relations between India and Afghanistan might have “angered Pakistan and pushed Islamabad towards aggression”.
Militant activities have surged in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban’s return to power. Most attacks are attributed to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), whose activities against Pakistani security forces have intensified this year, potentially marking the deadliest period in over a decade. The border violence has “plunged relations between the neighbors to an all-time low”, remarked Maleeha Lodhi, a former senior Pakistani diplomat. However, she emphasized the necessity of returning to diplomacy to resolve the ongoing confrontation.
The TTP, although separate, is closely affiliated with the Afghan Taliban, which Islamabad accuses of operating freely from Afghan soil. A UN report highlighted that the TTP receives “substantial logistical and operational support from the de facto authorities”, referring to the Taliban government. Over 500 individuals, including 311 troops and 73 policemen, have died in attacks from January to mid-September, according to a Pakistani military spokesperson. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif informed parliament of failed attempts to persuade the Afghan Taliban to cease supporting the TTP, asserting that the patience of the Pakistani government and military has reached its limit.