Islamabad: Violent clashes broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border late Saturday night after Afghan Taliban forces launched unprovoked attacks on several Pakistani military posts, security officials said. The Pakistan Army responded forcefully to the aggression.
According to Taliban border authorities, the confrontation followed Kabul’s accusations that Islamabad had conducted airstrikes on Afghan territory earlier in the week.
“In response to the Pakistani airstrikes, Taliban border forces in eastern regions are engaged in heavy clashes with Pakistani troops across multiple border points,” the Afghan military stated.
Officials from Afghanistan’s border provinces — Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand — confirmed that intense fighting was ongoing between the two sides.
While Islamabad did not confirm conducting any airstrikes, it urged Kabul to “cease providing sanctuary to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)” within Afghan territory.
“This evening, Taliban forces opened fire, initially using light weapons and later escalating to heavy artillery across four positions along the border,” a senior security official in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa told AFP.
“Pakistani troops retaliated with heavy shelling, downing three Afghan quadcopters suspected of carrying explosives. Fierce exchanges continue, though no casualties have been reported so far,” the official added.
