KABUL — Taliban authorities claimed Sunday that they killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured 25 border posts in retaliatory operations carried out overnight in response to what it described as repeated violations of Afghanistan’s territory and airspace.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 30 Pakistani soldiers were wounded, and that “all official borders and de facto lines” are now under their group’s control. The Taliban Defence Ministry warned that if further violations occur, its forces will respond forcefully.
In Islamabad, officials accused the Taliban of opening fire across multiple districts, including Chitral, Bajaur, Mohmand, Angoor Adda, and Kurram, prompting Pakistani forces to respond.
Pakistan has not independently confirmed the Taliban’s casualty numbers. However, the Pakistani army has confirmed the death of 23 of its soldiers in clashes with the Taliban.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistani army “destroyed several [Afghan] posts” and forced insurgent fighters to retreat.
Earlier in the week, Pakistan bombed both the capital Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan. Islamabad has not yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Tensions between the two sides have long been fueled by Islamabad’s accusations that the Taliban harbors members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the latter denies.
Border crossings including Torkham and Chaman were closed following the clash, disrupting trade and daily life in affected communities.
Analysts warned that border communities, already vulnerable, could suffer further hardship.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia issued statements urging both sides to avoid escalation and resolve disputes through dialogue. The Saudi warning gained attention as Riyadh recently entered a mutual defence agreement with Pakistan.
With competing claims, restricted access to the frontlines, and conflicting reports, independent verification of the full scale of the fighting or damage remains elusive.
