Afghanistan Claims 58 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Cross-Border Operations

KABUL — Afghanistan’s Taliban administration declared on Sunday that its border forces launched overnight operations resulting in the deaths of 58 Pakistani soldiers along the shared frontier, an incident that marks one of the deadliest recent escalations between the neighboring nations. The Taliban claims the attack was a direct response to ongoing violations of Afghan territory and airspace by Pakistani forces, intensifying historic border tensions that have simmered for decades.

Taliban Announces Biggest Border Clash in Years

Addressing reporters in Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Afghan forces executed coordinated strikes targeting Pakistani military installations stationed along contentious sections of the border. Mujahid claimed that Afghan units seized control of 25 border posts and wounded at least 30 Pakistani soldiers, all while suffering minimal losses. “The situation along all official boundaries and unofficial lines is under our full control,” Mujahid asserted, emphasizing that illegal crossings and military provocations had been “largely prevented.”

The Taliban’s Defense Ministry issued a statement labeling the operation as both successful and necessary. “Any further violation of Afghan sovereignty will be met with a robust response,” the ministry warned, as Afghan state media circulated photographs purportedly showing Afghan fighters hoisting their flag over captured outposts.

Pakistan Disputes Death Toll, Cites Heavy Afghan Losses

The Pakistani military swiftly pushed back against Afghanistan’s claims, stating that only 23 of its soldiers were killed in the incident. According to Pakistan, its army responded forcefully, destroying several Afghan military positions and forcing a retreat. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he called an “unprovoked assault” and praised Pakistani forces for “delivering a befitting reply.”

Pakistani security officials, who shared footage of smoldering Afghan checkpoints, alleged that more than 200 Taliban and allied fighters were “neutralized” in the clash—although independent verification of all casualty figures remains elusive, with rival governments issuing conflicting accounts.

A senior Pakistani security source said that the exchanges began when Afghan border units fired at Pakistani outposts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, compelling the Pakistani army to seize control of 19 Afghan-held posts. “Personnel at these positions fled, surrendered, or were killed. Fires broke out, and significant destruction occurred,” the official reported.

Historical Border Disputes and the Durand Line

The border separating Pakistan and Afghanistan, known as the Durand Line, stretches 2,611 kilometers across rugged terrain. Established by British colonial authorities in 1893, the line has never been recognized by successive Afghan governments, including the Taliban. The dispute over its legitimacy has fueled periodic clashes, cross-border shelling, and tension among border communities, many of whom share deep cultural, ethnic, and family ties.

For decades, both sides have accused each other of harboring hostile militias and armed groups. Pakistan routinely charges that Afghanistan is a safe haven for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which launches cross-border raids and bombings on Pakistani soil. Afghan officials strongly reject these allegations, insisting that no foreign militants are allowed to use Afghan territory as a launchpad for attacks abroad.

Economic and Humanitarian Impacts of Border Closures

The violence has reverberated through border communities and disrupted critical trade routes. The Torkham crossing, the principal point of legal commerce and movement between Afghanistan and Pakistan, was shuttered after the fighting and remained closed as of Sunday morning. The Chaman crossing near southwest Pakistan suffered the same fate, leaving thousands of traders, truck drivers, and Afghan refugees stranded or turned away.

Traders in both countries expressed alarm at the border closures, which threaten to inflate the prices of essential goods, disrupt supply chains, and strain an already fragile regional economy. Afghanistan, which depends on overland trade through Pakistan for a substantial portion of its food, fuel, and medical supplies, faces heightened risk of shortages and price surges. In the city of Chaman, witnesses recounted scenes of confusion as families and laborers were denied passage, and security forces cordoned off access points.

The humanitarian impact extends into Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, where local reports described fighter jets roaring overhead and plumes of smoke rising from the town of Spin Boldak. “We heard a loud explosion and saw black smoke. People are very worried,” said a resident by phone from Spin Boldak.

Regional Reaction and Diplomatic Pressure

The latest escalation drew swift international concern. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, referencing its recently signed defense pact with Pakistan, called for “dialogue, restraint, and wisdom” to prevent further bloodshed and safeguard regional security. Qatar echoed these appeals, urging both Kabul and Islamabad to de-escalate and restore normal diplomatic communication.

The fragile situation comes at a time of heightened volatility elsewhere in the region. Earlier this year, tensions between India and Pakistan flared dangerously after a massacre of tourists in the disputed Kashmir region, raising fears of cross-border hostilities. In response, India has also sought to stabilize relations with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, upgrading its diplomatic presence in Kabul to full embassy status just weeks ago.

During a state visit to India, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi acknowledged the appeals for restraint but reiterated Afghanistan’s right to defend its sovereignty. “We respect the calls to cease retaliatory actions, but Afghanistan reserves the right to protect itself,” Muttaqi told journalists, adding, “We want a peaceful resolution, but if peace efforts fail, there are other options.”

Broader Security Context and Future Risks

The ongoing crisis comes amid years of instability across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which is home to numerous militant sanctuaries, smuggling routes, and refugee camps. Pakistani officials claim that India provides material support to separatist groups operating from Afghan soil, although public evidence remains limited. Meanwhile, Afghanistan warns that repeated airstrikes on its territory risk undermining efforts to improve relations and combat extremism on both sides.

Analysts say clashes like the latest border battle threaten to unravel already tenuous efforts at regional cooperation, undercutting attempts by international agencies and neighboring states to coordinate humanitarian relief, rein in militancy, and stabilize cross-border commerce.

Border violence risks are further heightened by the presence of millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many of whom face the prospect of forced returns as security worsens. Aid agencies have warned of a looming humanitarian crisis if cross-border aid is disrupted or essential trade halted.

Uncertain Path Forward

With both sides advancing sharply different narratives about casualties and territorial gains, the true scale of the overnight clashes remains uncertain. Field hospitals in Pakistani border towns report a growing influx of wounded soldiers and civilians, further straining local medical resources. In Afghanistan, Taliban authorities have moved to shore up their positions along the Durand Line, deploying reinforcements and issuing warnings against further incursions.

Whether through back-channel diplomacy or increased third-party mediation, observers agree that a sustained escalation could have serious consequences—not only for bilateral relations but for wider regional security and economic stability. The stakes are particularly high as winter approaches, with border disruptions threatening lives and livelihoods on both sides of the historically volatile divide.