Lead
Pakistan said two of its soldiers were killed and three wounded after the Afghan Taliban launched a cross‑border operation late on Thursday, prompting Islamabad to carry out strikes on Kabul and Kandahar in the early hours of Friday. Officials described Pakistan’s strikes as countermeasures against “unprovoked” fire from Afghan soil, while the Taliban said their operation was in retaliation for earlier Pakistani attacks. Residents in Kabul and Pakistan’s border districts reported loud explosions and temporary closures at the Torkham crossing. The exchange follows a fragile ceasefire agreed in October and represents a fresh escalation along the 1,600‑mile (2,574 km) frontier.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan reports two soldiers killed and three injured after Taliban attacks on military positions late Thursday.
- Islamabad says it struck Kabul and Kandahar early Friday, targeting seven alleged militant camps and hideouts.
- The Afghan Taliban claims a “large‑scale” retaliatory operation began at about 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) on Thursday.
- Both sides assert they inflicted heavy losses; Pakistan says multiple posts and equipment on the Afghan side were destroyed.
- Residents heard blasts in Kabul and near Pakistan’s Torkham crossing, which was closed and halted deportation movements.
- The clashes reopen tensions despite a fragile October ceasefire that had temporarily reduced cross‑border fighting.
- Kabul authorities say civilian homes and a religious school were hit, with women and children among the dead, a claim Islamabad disputes.
Background
The Pakistan‑Afghanistan frontier has long been a conduit for insurgent groups, smuggling and intermittent military incursions. After deadly clashes earlier in the year, Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban agreed a ceasefire in October that reduced but did not eliminate skirmishes along the mountainous 1,600‑mile (2,574 km) border. Both capitals have repeatedly accused the other of hosting or striking militants who then carry out attacks across the line, creating a persistent cycle of reprisals.
Pakistan has in recent months blamed cross‑border militants for suicide bombings and attacks inside its territory and says it has responded by striking alleged militant hideouts. The Afghan Taliban, now the de facto authority in Kabul, maintains that some Pakistani operations have struck civilian areas and damaged infrastructure, prompting its own security response and rhetorical escalation. Local populations on both sides of the border live under recurring insecurity and disruption to trade and movements, including at major crossings like Torkham.
Main Event
Pakistani officials said the incident began late on Thursday when Taliban fighters attacked military positions along the north‑western frontier, prompting return fire. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the Taliban action as “unprovoked” and said Pakistani forces conducted counter‑strikes to neutralize the threat. Islamabad then reported airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar in the early hours of Friday, saying they targeted seven militant camps and hideouts allegedly used to plan attacks inside Pakistan.
The Afghan Taliban announced on social media that it had launched a “large‑scale” operation at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) on Thursday and claimed it had inflicted casualties and captured Pakistani posts. That post was later removed from the platform. Kabul authorities said residential homes and a madrassa were hit in the course of the strikes and reported civilian deaths, including women and children, a claim Pakistani spokespeople rejected.
Residents near the border town of Torkham reported heavy exchanges of fire and were advised to move to safer locations; officials suspended the repatriation of deported Afghans and closed the crossing to refugees. Both sides have circulated competing maps and lists of damaged positions and equipment, and independent verification of losses on either side remains limited amid the fluid security situation.
Analysis & Implications
The renewed clashes illustrate how brittle the October ceasefire proved to be: without robust verification, local commanders and militant groups can quickly reignite hostilities. Pakistan’s use of cross‑border airstrikes signals a willingness to escalate militarily to pursue alleged militant networks, but such strikes risk civilian harm and international condemnation if non‑combatants are affected. The Taliban’s rapid, publicized retaliatory operation appears aimed at deterring further strikes and demonstrating control of border terrain.
Politically, Islamabad faces domestic pressure to show it is protecting citizens after recent suicide bombings, which it partly attributes to groups operating from Afghan territory. Conversely, the Taliban government in Kabul seeks to assert sovereignty and respond to what it portrays as Pakistani violations. The two narratives harden positions and complicate diplomatic channels that could calm the situation.
Economically and humanitarianly, repeated closures of crossings like Torkham disrupt trade and the movement of refugees and returnees, aggravating hardship in border communities. If escalations continue, there is a risk of broader displacement, reduced humanitarian access and strain on regional actors, including Pakistan’s relations with other neighbors and international donors monitoring civilian protection.
Comparison & Data
| Incident | Pakistan’s Report | Taliban’s Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Late‑Thursday border operation | 2 Pakistani soldiers killed; 3 injured | “Numerous” Pakistani casualties; captured posts |
| Early‑Friday strikes | Airstrikes on Kabul & Kandahar targeting 7 camps | Homes and a madrassa hit; civilian deaths including women and children |
The table summarizes the main competing claims. Independent verification by neutral monitors or third‑party journalists is limited at present, and casualty figures remain disputed. Historical patterns show both sides typically report higher enemy losses and downplay their own, underscoring the need for corroboration.
Reactions & Quotes
“The Taliban miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations,”
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Pakistan (official statement)
Pakistan’s official statement characterized the cross‑border strikes as measured responses to what it called incursions; the language emphasizes territorial integrity and the protection of citizens.
“Large‑scale preemptive operations were launched against Pakistani army centres and military installations,”
Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi, Taliban military spokesman
The Taliban framed its operation as preemptive and retaliatory, stressing action against military targets and responding to prior Pakistani strikes, which it said had killed civilians.
“All aggression will receive an immediate and effective response,”
Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister
Government spokespeople in Islamabad dismissed Taliban claims of captured posts and stressed that any attack would be met forcefully, signaling continued readiness for military response.
Unconfirmed
- The Taliban’s claims of capturing 15 Pakistani military posts have not been independently verified.
- Reported Afghan civilian casualty numbers, including women and children in Kabul, remain unconfirmed by neutral observers.
- Precise counts of equipment and posts destroyed on either side are currently based on each party’s statements and lack third‑party corroboration.
Bottom Line
The exchange of fire and reciprocal strikes mark a clear uptick in hostilities after a tenuous October ceasefire, with both sides trading claims of victory and losses. The immediate human cost includes military casualties and reported civilian harm, and the strategic cost is a renewed erosion of trust that complicates future de‑escalation.
What to watch next: independent verification of casualty and damage claims; diplomatic efforts or mediations to restore the ceasefire; the status of crossings like Torkham and any resulting humanitarian or refugee movements. Continued escalation would have wider regional implications and could draw condemnation if civilian harm is confirmed.