Afghan forces said they killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight clashes after accusing Pakistan of violating their territory and airspace.
The Taliban government’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Afghan troops also seized 25 Pakistani posts and wounded 30 soldiers.
He declared that Afghan forces maintained full control of the borders and had largely stopped illegal activities.
Earlier in the week, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in the east, an attack Pakistan denied.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry confirmed that its troops carried out “retaliatory and successful operations” along the frontier.
It warned that any further violation of Afghan borders would meet a “strong response.”
Pakistan Rejects Claims and Issues Its Own Warning
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the army “gave a fitting response” and destroyed several Afghan positions.
Pakistani officials released videos allegedly showing damaged Afghan checkpoints, though reporters could not verify the footage.
The Pakistani military said it neutralized more than 200 Taliban and allied fighters during the confrontation.
Security sources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said Afghan troops fired on several northwestern border regions during the clashes.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants who launch deadly attacks inside the country.
Afghanistan denies the charge, insisting it does not allow its land to be used against neighbours.
Escalating Regional Tensions Raise Global Alarm
The violence threatens to destabilize an already volatile region struggling with insurgency and border disputes.
Pakistan continues to face a surge in militancy, particularly in areas near the Afghan frontier.
Islamabad also accuses India of supporting armed groups, though it has provided no proof of these claims.
The renewed fighting comes months after India and Pakistan nearly went to war following a massacre in Kashmir.
Observers warn that sustained hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan could ignite a broader regional crisis.
