On a late Saturday night, intense clashes erupted at the Durand Line between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. According to security officials from both nations, this conflict followed a Pakistani aerial attack targeting Pakistani Taliban (TTP) sites in Kabul. This confrontation occurred coinciding with the Afghan Emirate's Foreign Minister's presence in Delhi. Amidst this, the Taliban asserted that they had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers.
As per Afghanistan's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, recent confrontations between the Afghan Islamic Emirate's forces and the Pakistani military resulted in 58 Pakistani soldiers dead and 30 wounded. An extensive cache of Pakistani weapons was also seized by Afghan forces during the encounter. Mujahid highlighted that more than 20 Afghan army personnel were either killed or wounded in the conflict. He stated that military actions were paused following requests from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
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In a press conference held in Kabul, the Afghan spokesperson elaborated, detailing Afghan forces' counteractions to Pakistani aerial strikes along the Durand Line. He accused Pakistan of ignoring terrorist groups like ISIS on its soil, affirming Afghanistan's right to defend both its aerial and land boundaries. Mujahid demanded Pakistan cease providing sanctuary to terrorists and urged handing them over to Kabul's government.
Indian Former Diplomat Comments on PAK-Afghan Tensions
In response to the ongoing tension, former Indian diplomat KP Fabian remarked, "Coincidentally, this incident occurred when the Afghan Foreign Minister is in Delhi. The deteriorating relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan can't be understood solely through the Durand Line. Pakistan mishandled its policy, exerting excessive pressure while the proud Afghans resisted, resulting in very poor current relations. Pakistani attacks on Kabul met with Afghan retaliation have ultimately rendered Pakistan’s policy ineffective."
The diplomat further noted Afghanistan's enthusiasm to strengthen ties with India, stating, "It's natural for Pakistan to feel uneasy about this."
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Pakistani security sources revealed that firing from Afghanistan occurred "without provocation" and was met with "full force" in retaliation. These skirmishes spanned over six border regions. The Pakistani military claimed to have destroyed several Afghan posts, while the Taliban asserted that their fighters seized three Pakistani outposts.
Afghan Defense Ministry Issues Warning
Inayatulllah Khawarizmi, Afghanistan's Defense Ministry spokesperson, warned that the attack was a response to Pakistan's violation of Afghan airspace. He asserted, "Should the adversary repeat such actions, our forces will respond robustly." Islamabad is yet to clarify whether the conflict has been concluded. This approximately 2,600-kilometer-long border has been a persistent source of tension between both countries for decades.
