Afghan Taliban Launch 'Retaliatory' Border Attacks After Pakistan Airstrikes
Tensions Escalate Along Pakistan-Afghanistan Border
Heavy gunfire erupted late Saturday along multiple points of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after Afghan Taliban forces launched attacks on Pakistani military positions. According to officials from both nations, the clashes came in direct response to Pakistan’s recent airstrike near Kabul earlier this week.
Pakistani security authorities said their troops responded “with full force” to what they described as unprovoked aggression from across the border. The firefights reportedly occurred at more than six locations along the rugged frontier, marking one of the most intense military confrontations between the two neighbors in recent months.
In a statement, Pakistani officials confirmed that artillery units engaged Taliban fighters across several positions, sharing video footage showing tracer fire streaking across the night sky. The brief but fierce exchanges underscored the deepening hostilities between Islamabad and Kabul, whose relations have steadily worsened since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
Afghanistan Claims Retaliation for Airspace Violation
Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the border assaults were a “retaliatory operation” against Pakistan’s violation of Afghan airspace. He said the operation concluded around midnight local time.
“If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s airspace, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation and deliver a powerful response,” Khowarazmi declared in a statement.
While Pakistani military sources did not immediately confirm whether hostilities had fully ceased, they reported significant retaliatory strikes that destroyed multiple Taliban border posts. In contrast, Taliban officials claimed their fighters had captured at least three Pakistani outposts during the clashes.
The 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) frontier—commonly referred to as the Durand Line—has long been a flashpoint between the two countries, often seeing sporadic skirmishes and accusations of cross-border incursions.
Pakistan’s Airstrike in Kabul Raises Regional Tensions
The latest conflict follows a Pakistani airstrike earlier this week targeting a vehicle in Kabul believed to be carrying a top commander of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban.
A Pakistani intelligence source told Reuters that the airstrike was a precision mission aimed at neutralizing the TTP’s leadership. However, it remains unclear whether the militant leader was killed.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban administration of sheltering TTP militants who launch deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Officials in Pakistan allege that these fighters operate with external support from regional rivals, particularly India — a claim New Delhi has firmly denied.
“We have shown patience for far too long,” one senior Pakistani security official said earlier this week. “If Kabul continues to allow its soil to be used against Pakistan, we will take decisive action.”
Taliban’s Warning and Diplomatic Shifts
The Afghan Taliban government has rejected Pakistan’s allegations, maintaining that it does not permit any group to use Afghan territory to attack another nation. “Afghanistan seeks peaceful and respectful relations with its neighbors,” Khowarazmi emphasized, warning that continued Pakistani aggression would be met with “proportionate and strong retaliation.”
The clashes come amid a delicate period in regional diplomacy. Just days before the fighting erupted, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister visited India, marking the first high-level Taliban visit to New Delhi since the group seized power in 2021.
During the visit, Afghan and Indian officials discussed expanding economic and security ties — a move that alarmed policymakers in Islamabad. Analysts say the strengthening of Kabul-New Delhi relations could further complicate Pakistan’s strategic position in the region.
“The Taliban’s outreach to India is seen by Islamabad as a shift in Afghanistan’s foreign policy priorities,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, a South Asia analyst based in Islamabad. “It signals that the Taliban are diversifying their alliances, which could weaken Pakistan’s historical influence over Kabul.”
Growing Wave of Violence Inside Pakistan
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in militant attacks, particularly in its northwestern provinces bordering Afghanistan. Security forces and civilians alike have been targeted in suicide bombings, ambushes, and cross-border raids.
The Pakistani Taliban — ideologically aligned with, but organizationally separate from, the Afghan Taliban — has intensified its insurgency since the collapse of peace talks with Islamabad last year.
Pakistani officials argue that many of these militants now find safe haven inside Afghanistan, where they regroup and plan operations. The Afghan government has consistently denied this, calling such claims “baseless and politically motivated.”
Regional Stability at Risk
The latest escalation has raised alarm among international observers who fear a broader destabilization along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. The region is already grappling with humanitarian challenges, economic instability, and a rise in militant activity following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Experts warn that continued clashes could derail fragile diplomatic efforts aimed at improving cross-border security cooperation.
“Both sides need to show restraint and revive communication channels,” said Ahmad Rashid, a veteran journalist and author on Afghan affairs. “Without coordination, these incidents could spiral into a larger conflict that neither country can afford.”
Uncertain Future for Bilateral Relations
For now, tensions remain high as both governments trade accusations and prepare for potential future confrontations. Pakistan’s defense ministry has not yet issued an official statement on the scale of damage or casualties sustained during the weekend clashes.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials continue to portray their actions as defensive, warning that they will “not tolerate any further violations” of their sovereignty.
The border violence underscores how quickly relations between the two Islamic nations—once seen as close allies—have deteriorated in recent years. What began as limited border disputes and diplomatic disagreements has now escalated into sustained military engagements, threatening long-term regional peace and cooperation.
As the guns fall silent—for now—analysts caution that the root causes of mistrust, militancy, and cross-border instability remain unresolved. Without a renewed commitment to dialogue and security coordination, the region risks descending into a cycle of retaliation that could ignite wider instability across South Asia.