Afghan Taliban Launches Cross-Border Attacks on Pakistan as Border Conflict Deepens

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated sharply after Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities confirmed launching attacks on Pakistani military positions along the border, describing the move as retaliation for recent Pakistani airstrikes.

In a statement released late Thursday, the Taliban’s eastern military corps reported that “heavy clashes” erupted in response to air raids allegedly carried out by Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces last week. The announcement signals a widening confrontation between the two neighbors, whose relationship has deteriorated significantly in recent months.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X that large-scale offensive operations had been initiated against Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line. He described the attacks as a response to what he called repeated provocations and violations by Pakistan’s military.

An Afghan military source speaking to Al Jazeera claimed that at least 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 13 outposts were captured during Thursday’s operations. Afghan authorities framed the assault as retaliation for Pakistani strikes conducted earlier in the week along the border.

Pakistan, however, has firmly rejected those claims. Officials in Islamabad previously stated that their forces had killed at least 70 fighters in earlier air operations, while Afghan authorities disputed that account, alleging that civilians, including women and children, were among the casualties.

The situation along the 2,611-kilometer frontier has remained volatile since deadly clashes in October left more than 70 people dead on both sides. Since then, major land crossings along the border have largely remained closed, disrupting trade and movement between the two countries.

In response to the latest developments, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said its troops delivered an “immediate and effective response” to Taliban fire across several sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to the ministry, Taliban forces suffered heavy casualties in areas including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur, with multiple posts and equipment reportedly destroyed.

Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, dismissed Taliban claims that Pakistani outposts had been captured or damaged. He stated that Pakistani forces had inflicted significant losses in response to what he described as unprovoked aggression from across the border.

The latest exchange of fire underscores the fragile security environment along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, where mutual accusations and retaliatory strikes have deepened mistrust. With both sides asserting military gains and blaming the other for initiating hostilities, regional stability hangs in the balance.

Observers warn that continued escalation could further destabilize border communities already affected by conflict, economic disruption, and restricted cross-border movement. As both governments maintain hardline positions, diplomatic efforts may prove critical in preventing the crisis from spiraling into a broader confrontation.