Fresh violence along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border has claimed dozens of lives, including both civilians and troops, according to reports published Wednesday citing security officials from both nations. The renewed fighting, which broke out late Tuesday, prompted both countries to agree to a 48-hour ceasefire each claiming the other had requested it.
Hours after clashes erupted, Pakistan reportedly carried out airstrikes targeting Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and parts of Kandahar province, Reuters and AFP reported, quoting senior officials.
Intense Border Fighting
Pakistan’s military said Taliban forces launched heavy assaults on two major border posts in its southwest and northwest regions but were successfully repelled. Around 20 Taliban fighters were killed in Kandahar’s Spin Boldak area early Wednesday, while roughly 30 others were reportedly killed during overnight battles in the northwest frontier zone, AFP cited military sources as saying.
“These attacks were coordinated from divided villages along the border with complete disregard for civilian lives,” Pakistan’s military said in a statement. Afghan officials, meanwhile, reported 15 civilian deaths and dozens of injuries amid the hostilities.
Escalation Across the Frontier
Reuters cited local officials confirming that six Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed, and another six injured in Orakzai district following exchanges of fire between troops and militants. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of striking Afghan positions “with light and heavy weaponry” and renewed allegations of aggression across the border.
This latest escalation comes just days after deadly weekend clashes, when Afghanistan retaliated over Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul on October 7. The Taliban claimed it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in those earlier confrontations, while Islamabad placed its toll at 23, asserting that over 200 Taliban combatants were neutralized in response.
Diplomatic Efforts and Regional Fallout
The border crossings between the two countries were sealed on October 12 as tensions peaked. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had warned of a firm response to what he called “unprovoked firing,” while the Taliban threatened further action if Pakistan refused talks.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia later intervened to mediate, resulting in a temporary halt to the fighting.
Local Afghan officials confirmed that 15 civilians were killed by mortar fire in Spin Boldak, while hospital authorities reported over 80 injured, including women and children. The ceasefire is expected to hold for 48 hours as both sides investigate the latest sequence of cross-border attacks.
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