Pakistan-Afghan Border Clashes Leave 15 Soldiers Dead, Posts Lost

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border became a scene of intense conflict Saturday night, leading to the deaths of at least 15 Pakistani soldiers and the reported capture of three border posts by Taliban forces. Afghan officials identified the fighting as retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes that allegedly occurred in Kabul. Pakistani security officials acknowledged a significant exchange of fire, stating their forces responded aggressively to Taliban aggression on their border posts and inflicted heavy losses on Afghan positions and TTP militants. They used the term ‘Khwarij’ to refer to the militants. The Afghan Taliban’s border forces, however, stated the Pakistani military initiated the engagement by conducting airstrikes, and their forces responded in self-defense. Fighting was reported across key border areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, with some Afghan sources claiming to have seized Pakistani military installations. Pakistan has reportedly responded with heavy weaponry, underscoring the gravity of the situation. This border crisis heightens regional tensions, particularly concerning Pakistan’s allegations of Afghanistan harboring TTP militants.