The deadliest clashes in years erupted after alleged Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. With both sides trading blame, fears of escalation are growing
In one of the deadliest escalations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent years, dozens of soldiers have been killed on both sides of the border following a night of heavy cross-border fighting. The clashes mark a dangerous new phase in a relationship already strained by disputes over militant sanctuaries, sovereignty violations, and territorial legitimacy.
According to Pakistani and Afghan government officials, at least 23 Pakistani soldiers and 9 Afghan troops were killed in the fighting that erupted on the night of October 11–12.
The Taliban later claimed it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, injured dozens more, and captured 25 military posts, a version that Islamabad has not confirmed. On the other hand, Pakistani military sources told Dawn that over 200 Taliban and affiliated fighters were killed in retaliatory operations. None of these claims have been independently verified.
The latest violence was sparked by alleged Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory. The Taliban government has described its response as retaliation. But at the heart of the confrontation lies the long-festering issue of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) presence inside Afghanistan and Islamabad’s growing frustration with Kabul’s refusal to act against the group.
Here is a detailed breakdown of what triggered the fighting, what each side is claiming, and why the situation remains volatile.
Where And When Did The Clashes Take Place?
The confrontation began on the night of Saturday, October 11, along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, with heavy exchanges of fire reported in multiple districts of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The key areas affected included Chitral, Bajaur, Mohmand, Angoor Adda, and Kurram.
Additional firing was reported near Baramcha and Bahram Chah in Balochistan, while Pakistan retaliated with heavy artillery near Tirah and across the border in Nangarhar province, as per AP.
On the Afghan side, TOLO news reported that the Taliban Ministry of Defence deployed tanks and heavy weapons in Kunar province, raising the risk of a broader military escalation.
Both the Torkham and Chaman border crossings, the two main trade and transit routes between the countries, were closed on Sunday following the clashes, disrupting cross-border commerce and movement.
What Triggered The Taliban’s Retaliation?
Afghan authorities said the cross-border assault was in response to alleged Pakistani airstrikes carried out last week. The Taliban government accused Pakistan of bombing Abdul Haq Square in Kabul, near several government ministries, and a civilian market in Paktika province. It called the attacks “violent, unprecedented and heinous”.
Pakistan has not officially admitted to the strikes. However, a Pakistani security official told Reuters that airstrikes were indeed conducted and were targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud, who was reportedly travelling in a vehicle in Kabul. It remains unverified whether Mehsud was killed or survived.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, described the bombings as an “airspace violation” and warned of retaliation. He said: “There is no kind of threat in any part of Afghanistan’s territory. The Islamic Emirate and the people of Afghanistan will defend their land and remain resolute and committed in this defence.”
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is on a visit to India, also issued a warning. “If Pakistan doesn’t want good relations and peace, then Afghanistan has other options as well,” he said.
Who Is The TTP, And What Role Does It Play In The Conflict?
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, is a banned militant group that seeks to overthrow Pakistan’s government and establish rule based on a hardline interpretation of Islamic law. It emerged in 2007 following Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas and has since been involved in major terrorist attacks, including the 2014 Peshawar school massacre.
The TTP regained strength since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan accuses Kabul of allowing the group to operate freely from Afghan soil. While the Taliban government denies this, Pakistan’s army maintains that the group is being sheltered across the border.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, in its statement as quoted by Dawn, said the skirmishes began “on the night of Oct 11/12, 2025, [after] Afghan Taliban and India-sponsored Fitna-al-Khawarij launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan, along the Pak-Afghan border.”
Pakistan refers to the TTP as Fitna-al-Khawarij, which roughly means those who have strayed from the right path of Islam or those who are guided by a distorted understanding of Islam.
Afghan officials have rejected this claim. On October 12, Foreign Minister Muttaqi stated, “There is no presence of TTP in Afghanistan now.”
What Is The Durand Line And Why Does It Matter In This Conflict?
At the heart of repeated skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the Durand Line, a 2,611-kilometre border drawn in 1893 by the British, which Afghanistan has never formally recognised. The Taliban, like previous Afghan governments, considers it a colonial-era imposition that unjustly divides ethnic Pashtun populations on both sides.
The latest fighting erupted along sectors that lie directly on this disputed boundary, including Chitral, Bajaur, and Kurram. Afghanistan’s rejection of the Durand Line has long fuelled tensions over fencing, cross-border movement, and accusations of sovereignty violations.
Speaking in India, Muttaqi referenced the boundary dispute explicitly, saying: “The Afghanistan–Pakistan border, the Durand Line, is more than 2,400 km long. It could neither be controlled by ‘Changez’ nor ‘Angrez’… Strength alone cannot control it.”
Pakistan, meanwhile, treats the line as an international border and has militarised the frontier, citing the need to block infiltration by militants. But the Taliban’s ideological and political rejection of the boundary makes regular cooperation on border control almost impossible.
What Explains The Timing Of This Escalation?
Several analysts link the current escalation to a recent surge in attacks by the TTP on Pakistani military personnel. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, at least 2,414 fatalities were recorded in the first three quarters of 2025. In its latest report released in September, CRSS warned that “2025 could be the deadliest year in more than a decade” if the trend continues.
At the same time, tensions have been heightened by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, where New Delhi has announced plans to reopen its embassy in Kabul and expand diplomatic engagement with the Taliban regime. This move has drawn unease in Islamabad, which has long viewed India’s presence in Afghanistan with suspicion.
Ibraheem Bahiss, a Kabul-based senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said to Al Jazeera: “Muttaqi’s red-carpet welcome in India was probably a factor in the ultimate decision by the Pakistan army to escalate in the major way that we saw.”
How Have International Actors Responded?
While India has not issued an official comment on the clashes, several other countries have expressed concern.
Qatar’s foreign ministry urged both sides to “prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain the disputes”.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said it “calls for restraint, avoiding escalation, and embracing dialogue and wisdom to contribute to reducing tensions”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on state television, “Stability between the two countries that border Iran contributes to regional stability.”
