Struggle for sovereignty, security intensifies along Pak-Afghan border
Cross-border strikes, heavy clashes and rising casualties deepen tensions as Islamabad claims 67 Afghan Taliban fighters killed
ISLAMABAD/KABUL (MNTV) – Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply escalated following a series of deadly attacks inside Pakistan, prompting cross-border military action and raising fears of a broader conflict between the two neighboring states.
Pakistan says it launched targeted strikes against the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside Afghanistan after a surge in militant violence, including attacks reaching the capital, Islamabad. According to Pakistani officials, operations were carried out in Afghan provinces such as Kabul, Paktika, Kandahar and Nangarhar to dismantle TTP infrastructure.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring TTP militants and allowing Afghan territory to be used for cross-border attacks. The Afghan Taliban administration has consistently denied these allegations, arguing that Pakistan’s security failures are domestic in nature and cannot be shifted onto Afghanistan.
The situation deteriorated after Afghan forces allegedly opened fire on multiple Pakistani border posts. Pakistan’s leadership adopted what it described as an “open war” posture, claiming tactical gains along sections of the disputed frontier. Heavy exchanges have since been reported across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Afghan Taliban fighters launched coordinated assaults on 16 locations in northern Balochistan, including Qilla Saifullah, Noshki and Chaman, and conducted fire raids on 25 additional positions.
He stated that Pakistani forces repelled the attacks, killing 27 Afghan Taliban fighters. One Frontier Corps soldier was killed and five others wounded.
In KP province, Tarar reported that one attempted physical assault and 12 fire raids were thwarted without Pakistani casualties. He claimed that 40 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed in overnight operations there, bringing the total reported Afghan fatalities to 67.
A senior Pakistani security official told media that ground and air operations were also conducted across the border in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.
Targets reportedly included an ammunition depot, a drone storage facility near Jalalabad, and a base in Khogani. The official said operations would continue until objectives were met. Afghan authorities have not issued an immediate response to these specific claims.
Meanwhile, explosions and gunfire were heard across Kabul on Tuesday, according to journalists on the ground. Anti-aircraft fire echoed through the capital as Afghanistan’s defense ministry confirmed ongoing clashes with Pakistani forces.
Similar reports emerged from Jalalabad and the Torkham border crossing, where residents described days of sustained fighting.
Afghan officials say at least 39 civilians have been killed since the latest escalation began last Thursday, including three children in Kunar province.
Kabul condemned what it called violations of Afghan sovereignty and civilian harm resulting from Pakistani air strikes. Islamabad maintains that its operations exclusively targeted militant elements.
The violence marks the most severe confrontation since October, when cross-border fighting left more than 70 dead on both sides. Land crossings between the two countries have largely remained closed, disrupting trade, regional connectivity projects and refugee movement.
The international community has reacted with concern. The United States has expressed support for Pakistan’s right to self-defense against the TTP, while the European Union has emphasized that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten other states. Regional actors, including Türkiye and Qatar, are reportedly exploring mediation efforts to prevent further escalation.
At the core of the crisis is a profound breakdown of trust. Pakistan insists that commitments under the Doha framework require Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from operating on their soil. Kabul rejects responsibility for TTP actions.
With rising casualties, hardened rhetoric and mounting civilian impact, analysts warn that without structured dialogue, verification mechanisms and third-party facilitation, the standoff risks spiraling into prolonged conflict—benefiting extremist groups while destabilizing the broader region.
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