Post by : Shakul

Intense military clashes have erupted between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the long-contested Durand Line border, marking one of the most serious escalations between the two neighbouring states in years.

Afghan forces, according to the Taliban-led government in Kabul, launched large-scale retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line late on Thursday, killing dozens of Pakistani soldiers and capturing several posts. Kabul described the offensive as a response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory that hit civilian areas and allegedly killed noncombatants.

Hours later, Pakistan’s military carried out airstrikes on key Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul, and the provinces of Kandahar and Paktia, in what Islamabad’s defence minister termed an “open war.” The strikes targeted Taliban positions and military installations as a “crushing response” to cross-border fire.

Both governments have presented sharply different casualty figures. Afghan authorities claimed they killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, seized heavy weapons and overran military posts. Islamabad, for its part, rejected these figures, saying its casualties were minimal and asserting it inflicted heavy losses on Afghan fighters. Local officials also reported exchanges of fire and artillery duels around border areas.

The clashes have severely impacted civilian populations on both sides. Reports indicate that refugee camps and villages near the border have come under fire, prompting evacuations. The United Nations and international observers have expressed alarm, urging both parties to exercise restraint and to protect noncombatants as hostilities intensify.

Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have been simmering over allegations that militant groups, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliates, operate from Afghan soil. Pakistan has repeatedly demanded stronger action by Afghan authorities, which Kabul denies. The Durand Line — drawn during the British colonial era and not formally recognised by the Afghan government — remains a symbol of persistent dispute and periodic violence.

Regional powers, including Iran, China and Gulf states, have reportedly begun diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis, though prospects for an immediate ceasefire remain uncertain amid continued exchanges of fire and retaliatory strikes.

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