The Taliban regime declared a substantial success in a retaliatory operation against Pakistani forces along the Durand Line, claiming 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 wounded. The operation, which took place Saturday night, also resulted in the demolition of 20 Pakistani security outposts and the confiscation of weapons. Nine Afghan soldiers were martyred and 16 sustained injuries. The fighting was reportedly halted at midnight due to requests from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Taliban spokesperson additionally accused Pakistan of allowing ISIS-K to establish training facilities in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, alleging these centers are linked to attacks in Iran and Russia and demanding the handover of ISIS-K members. The Taliban rejected a Pakistani request for a delegation visit, framing it as a response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes. They issued a firm warning against any further violations of Afghan territory. The Ministry of Defence had previously condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes as an act of aggression. Concurrently, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister advised Pakistan against escalating tensions, suggesting that military pressure is ineffective in Afghanistan and historical precedent shows the futility of such approaches.
