Afghanistan Claims 58 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Overnight Border Strikes — Pakistan Disputes Figures
October 12, 2025
KABUL / ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government announced on Sunday that its forces had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight border operations, describing the strikes as retaliation for repeated violations of Afghan airspace and territory. Pakistan’s military disputed the figure, reporting 23 deaths among its troops.
Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces had captured 25 Pakistani military posts and left around 30 soldiers wounded. “The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control,” Mujahid told reporters in Kabul, insisting that “illegal activities have been largely prevented.”
Pakistan’s army presented a conflicting account, asserting that it had destroyed several Afghan positions and inflicted significant losses on Taliban-aligned fighters. Military sources said 19 Afghan border posts were recaptured after “retaliatory operations” in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Accusations, Bombings, and Escalation
The latest escalation comes days after Afghan officials accused Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan—an allegation that Islamabad has not confirmed. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry described the overnight operation as “retaliatory and successful,” warning that its armed forces were “fully prepared to defend the nation’s borders.”
On the ground, the Torkham crossing—a key trade route—remained closed on Sunday, as did the Chaman crossing in southwest Pakistan. Hundreds of civilians, including Afghan refugees, were turned back amid rising security tensions. An Associated Press correspondent in Chaman reported hearing fighter jets over Spin Boldak and seeing smoke rising after explosions.
Regional Powers Urge Calm
The border violence triggered swift reactions from regional players. Saudi Arabia and Qatar both called for restraint and dialogue to avoid further destabilization. Saudi Arabia recently signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan, intensifying interest in regional de-escalation.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, visiting India, echoed the Gulf states’ appeals but emphasized that Kabul reserved the right to defend itself. “We want a peaceful resolution of the situation,” he said, “but if peace efforts fail, we have other options.”
Islamabad Condemns ‘Provocation’
Before Kabul’s casualty claims, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, stating that the army “not only gave a befitting reply to Afghanistan’s provocations but also destroyed several of their posts.”
Pakistani security officials released unverified videos showing destroyed Afghan checkpoints, saying over 200 Taliban fighters had been “neutralized.” Journalists were unable to independently confirm these claims due to restricted access to the border areas.
One Pakistani security official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, said: “The Taliban personnel at these posts have either been killed or fled. Fires and visible destruction have been observed at the captured Afghan posts.”
Durand Line Dispute and Broader Tensions
The two nations share a 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) border known as the Durand Line—a colonial-era demarcation Afghanistan has never formally recognized. Pakistan has long accused Kabul of harboring members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it blames for attacks inside its territory. The Taliban administration denies these allegations.
Earlier this year, Pakistan and India came close to confrontation following a deadly attack in Kashmir. India has since strengthened its diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan, upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy.
Uncertain Future: Escalation or Dialogue?
While Afghan officials say they paused operations in response to calls from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the risk of renewed conflict remains high. The precise number of casualties on both sides is unverified, and independent observers have no access to the conflict zone.
The weekend’s confrontation marks one of the most severe border clashes since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, raising fears of a broader regional crisis if diplomacy fails to take hold.