Inside Afghanistan-Pakistan clashes: Deadly border escalation sparks regional tensions
Illustrative photo: The Pakistani army says it repelled Taliban attack (Getty Images)
Fierce clashes took place along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The Afghan Taliban said their attack was a response to an alleged air operation in Kabul. Dozens of military personnel have reportedly died on both sides.
RBC-Ukraine reports on the developments at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
What happened on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border
The clashes began on Saturday, October 11, when the Afghan Taliban reportedly attacked Pakistani border posts. Pakistani officials described the attack as unprovoked and said their forces responded "with full force." According to Pakistan, the clashes occurred in more than six locations.
Responsibility for the offensive was claimed by the 201st Khalid bin Walid Army Corps of Afghanistan.
This is the first time the Taliban has officially acknowledged an attack on Pakistan. The Islamist movement said the strike was a response to Pakistan's alleged "violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty."
The current escalation is the largest since 2021, when the Taliban took power in Afghanistan after US forces withdrew.
Both countries now report dozens of deaths. According to the Taliban, 20 border posts were seized, and Pakistan suffered 58 military fatalities. Official Islamabad has not confirmed these figures. Pakistani media reports that "dozens of Taliban" were killed and 19 border posts captured. These numbers cannot be independently verified.
Photo: Pakistan army strikes back after Afghan Taliban incursion (x.com/PakArmyc)
What triggered the new escalation
Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply increased in recent months. Pakistan accused the Taliban of sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants operating from Afghan territory. The Taliban denied the claim and urged Pakistan to address its own internal security problems.
On Thursday, October 9, two explosions occurred in Kabul and another in southeastern Afghanistan. The next day, the Taliban accused Pakistan of airstrikes and warned of consequences. On the same day, 11 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a clash near Tirah, close to the border.
Photo: Blast in Kabul that allegedly sparked the Taliban assault on Pakistan (x.com/GulshanKum6415)
Islamabad did not confirm involvement in the airstrikes but called on Kabul to "stop harboring Pakistani Taliban" on its territory. It is believed that these militants receive training in Afghanistan and share the ideology of Afghan Taliban members.
Western media, citing Pakistani intelligence sources, reported that Islamabad's strikes targeted Pakistani Taliban leader Noor Wali Mehsud.
What is happening now between Afghanistan and Pakistan
After the Taliban opened fire at multiple points along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, including in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, Pakistan responded with heavy artillery, tanks, and drones. Fighter jets were also deployed.
Pakistan also raised its alert level on the eastern border over fears of possible Indian involvement in the escalation.
Today, Afghanistan announced the end of its military operation. Since then, no reports of new large-scale clashes have emerged.
Photo: Disputed sections remain along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border (x.com/Currentreport1)
The two countries share a roughly 2,400-kilometer border, demarcated in 1893. Some sections remain disputed. Amid the current escalation, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have urged both sides to exercise restraint. There are concerns that Pakistan could potentially use nuclear weapons.
Sources: AFP, dpa, and BBC.
