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Dozens killed in fierce fighting along Pakistan-Afghanistan border

2025-10-12 14:47:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Fierce fighting took place overnight in at least five areas along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing several soldiers and forcing Islamabad to close two major border crossings, officials from both countries said on October 12.

In Kabul, the spokesman for the Taliban-led government, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at least 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and about 30 others were wounded during the exchange of fire.

Mujahid told a press conference that nine Afghan soldiers were also killed and about 18 others were wounded in the clashes that erupted on the evening of October 11.

Pakistani authorities have not released the number of casualties, but security sources near the border region confirmed to Radio Free Europe's Radio Mashaal that three Pakistani soldiers and one civilian were killed, while five soldiers were injured in the latest outbreak of violence between the two countries.

According to security sources, some civilians on the Pakistani side of the border were fleeing the region to safer areas.

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the violence, blaming Afghanistan for the escalation.

"There will be no compromise when it comes to Pakistan's defense and any provocation will receive a strong and effective response," Sharif said in a statement, accusing Taliban authorities in Afghanistan of allowing "terrorist elements" to use their territory.

Pakistani sources said that several Taliban border checkpoints inside Afghanistan have been destroyed during Pakistan's counter-attack.

"In a swift and intense response, Pakistani forces effectively targeted several Afghan border checkpoints," security officials confirmed to the Dawn newspaper.

According to security sources quoted by Dawn, Pakistan is using artillery, tanks, and light and heavy weapons in its operations.

Afghanistan's Taliban leaders confirmed that their forces have carried out "successful retaliatory operations along the Durand Line against Pakistani security force bases in response to repeated violations of Afghan airspace and territory."

The 2,600-kilometer-long border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is often called the colonial-era Durand Line, which defined the international border in 1893.

Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters that "retaliatory operations were halted last night at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia."

But, he added that heavy fighting is continuing "in several areas, including Bahramcha in Helmand province, due to continuous attacks from the Pakistani side."

A senior Pakistani official told AFP that "tonight, Taliban forces started using weapons. We opened fire first with light artillery, then heavy at four points along the border."

He added that Pakistani forces "shot down three Afghan drones suspected of carrying explosives. Intense fighting continues."

Reports from the border region could not be immediately verified.

Once allies, the two countries have been divided over Pakistan's accusations that the Afghan Taliban are harboring the extremist group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has waged a bloody insurgency against Islamabad for years.

The Taliban, who returned to power in August 2021 after international troops withdrew from Afghanistan, deny that they are protecting the TTP inside the country.

On October 9, two senior members of the extremist group were killed in Pakistani drone strikes in the Afghan capital, sources told Radio Free Europe's Radio Mashaal.

The target of the attack in Kabul on October 9 was Noor Wali Mehsud, the leader of the TTP, the group also known as the Pakistani Taliban, a Pakistani security official and a member of the group said.

It is not clear whether Mehsud was killed in the attack.

A TTP source said the leader is alive, but two "important" members of the group have been killed, without revealing their names.

Following the reported attack, Pakistani media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan as saying that Islamabad respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Afghanistan and is ready to cooperate on issues related to terrorism.

But, he added that Pakistan is committed to taking every necessary step to ensure the security and well-being of its citizens.

The spokesman did not directly confirm Pakistan's attack on Afghanistan, but said the country is protecting its citizens through counter-terrorism measures based on intelligence information.

Islamabad also called on Kabul to "stop harboring Pakistani Taliban on its territory."

Officials from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar called for "restraint" after the latest outbreak of violence./ Rel