Afghanistan claims 58 Pakistani soldiers killed in fierce border clashes as crossings shut down

Afghanistan's Taliban government claimed today that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 wounded in overnight border operations, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the South Asian neighbours. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference that nine Afghan soldiers also died and 18 were injured in the clashes that erupted late on 11th October.

The fighting prompted calls for restraint from Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarizmi described the operations as retaliatory attacks against Pakistani soldiers in response to "repeated violations" of Afghan territory and airstrikes. Pakistan has not yet commented on Afghanistan's casualty claims, though Pakistani state media reported that its forces seized 19 Afghan border posts.

The border violence followed explosions in Kabul and Paktika province earlier in the week, which Afghanistan blamed on Pakistani airstrikes. Pakistan did not officially confirm conducting the strikes, though military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that Afghanistan was being used as a base for operations against Pakistan. The strikes reportedly targeted members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a banned militant group that Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring.

Key border crossings at Torkham and Chaman remained closed today for pedestrian movement and trade. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he called "provocations by Afghanistan", stating there would be "no compromise on Pakistan's defence". The operations concluded at midnight on Saturday at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, according to Afghan officials. The 2,611-kilometre border, known as the Durand Line, remains a source of tension as Afghanistan has never recognised it.