By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Afghanistan’s Taliban government says it has launched a sweeping military operation against Pakistani army positions along the two countries’ volatile border, marking a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the uneasy neighbours.
According to chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the offensive began late on Thursday evening and targeted multiple Pakistani military centres and installations. He described the assault as a “large-scale pre-emptive operation” carried out in response to what he called repeated border violations and aggression by Pakistani forces.
Mujahid claimed that “numerous” Pakistani soldiers had been killed and that others were captured during the fighting. He also said Taliban forces had seized at least 15 Pakistani military posts along the frontier.
Pakistan swiftly rejected those claims. A statement from the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused Afghan forces of opening “unprovoked fire” across several locations in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It said Pakistani security forces were mounting an “immediate and effective response,” and asserted that Afghan forces had suffered heavy casualties, with multiple posts and equipment destroyed.
Escalation After Air Strikes
The cross-border clashes come just days after Islamabad carried out overnight air strikes inside Afghan territory. Pakistani officials said the strikes targeted seven alleged militant camps and hideouts near the border, following a series of suicide bombings on Pakistani soil that authorities blame on militants operating from Afghanistan.
The Taliban, however, said the strikes hit civilian areas, including homes and a religious school. Afghan officials reported that at least 18 people were killed, including women and children.
Taliban military spokesman Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi said Thursday’s operation was launched at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) as a direct act of retaliation. Kabul had previously warned that it would respond “at the appropriate time” to what it described as violations of Afghan sovereignty.
A Fragile Ceasefire Unravels
The latest confrontation shatters a fragile ceasefire agreed in October after earlier deadly clashes along the 1,600-mile (2,574km) mountainous frontier separating the two nations.
Despite that truce, sporadic skirmishes have continued, underscoring the deep mistrust that has come to define relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
Pakistan was once a key backer of the Taliban, particularly during the group’s insurgency against US-led forces following the 2001 invasion. However, ties have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), often referred to as the Pakistan Taliban — a separate militant group that has waged a violent insurgency against the Pakistani state. The TTP has carried out hundreds of attacks over the past year, targeting security forces, police stations and government infrastructure.
According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, at least 600 attacks on Pakistani forces have been recorded in the past 12 months alone, contributing to one of the bloodiest periods in Pakistan’s recent history.
The Taliban government in Kabul denies providing safe haven to the TTP but has struggled to convince Pakistan that it is taking sufficient action to rein in cross-border militancy.
Regional Stability at Risk
The mountainous border region has long been a flashpoint, marked by disputed territorial claims, porous crossing points and longstanding tribal ties that blur national boundaries.
The Durand Line — the colonial-era demarcation that forms much of the border — remains a sensitive political issue in Afghanistan, where many reject it as a legitimate international boundary.
Analysts warn that the current escalation risks spiralling into broader conflict if neither side steps back. Both governments have framed their actions as defensive and necessary to protect territorial integrity and national security.
Pakistan’s government vowed it would “take all necessary measures” to safeguard its citizens and sovereignty. Meanwhile, Taliban officials signalled that further operations could follow if Islamabad continues air strikes or cross-border incursions.
Uncertain Path Ahead
With mutual accusations mounting and casualties reported on both sides, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions may prove critical in the coming days. Neither government has yet indicated a willingness to return immediately to talks, and the rhetoric from both capitals has hardened.
The renewed fighting underscores the fragile and often adversarial relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan — neighbours bound by geography but divided by security concerns, historical grievances and competing regional interests.
As clashes continue along one of the world’s most volatile borders, fears are growing that what began as retaliatory strikes could evolve into a sustained military confrontation, further destabilising an already fragile region.
Source BBC
Original article
Comments