Af-Pak Border Erupts as Taliban Retaliate Against Pakistan — A Region on Edge
Heavy fighting broke out late Saturday along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, marking one of the most serious escalations between the two neighbours in recent months. The Taliban launched what they called “retaliatory operations” against Pakistani military positions, accusing Islamabad of violating Afghan airspace through recent strikes.
According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, the Taliban’s coordinated assaults were a direct response to what they described as repeated “violations of sovereignty.” Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarizmi stated that operations concluded around midnight, warning that any future airspace incursions would invite a “firm response.”
The clashes reportedly spanned over six key points along the 2,600-kilometre frontier, including volatile eastern and southern sectors. Taliban forces claimed to have seized several Pakistani border posts, while Islamabad maintained that it had “neutralized” Afghan positions in counter-fire operations.
“We are responding with full force to unprovoked firing,” said a senior Pakistani security official, adding that three Afghan drones carrying explosives were intercepted and destroyed.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called the Taliban’s actions “unprovoked aggression,” stating, “Firing on civilian populations is a clear violation of international law. Pakistan’s forces have given a prompt and effective response—brick for brick.”
Airstrike Allegations Deepen Tensions
This outbreak of violence follows a series of deadly explosions in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan last week. The Taliban government accused Pakistan of conducting targeted airstrikes against militant hideouts, though Islamabad has not confirmed or denied the allegations.
Pakistan, on its part, continues to accuse the Afghan Taliban of sheltering members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — a banned militant outfit responsible for numerous attacks across Pakistan. The TTP, sharing ideological ties with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, is believed to be operating from sanctuaries within Afghan territory.
The TTP recently claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which killed over 20 security personnel and three civilians.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, speaking in Parliament, said diplomatic talks with the Afghan Taliban to rein in the TTP had failed. “We will not tolerate this any longer,” he warned. “United, we must respond to those facilitating them—whether their hideouts are on our soil or Afghan soil.”
A Fragile Relationship on the Brink
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have steadily deteriorated since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Pakistan, once a strong backer of the Taliban regime, now accuses Kabul of turning a blind eye to militants crossing the border. The Taliban, in turn, charge Pakistan with violating Afghan sovereignty through repeated drone and air strikes.
A recent UN report claimed that the TTP continues to receive “substantial logistical and operational support” from within Afghanistan—allegations the Taliban deny. Despite several diplomatic efforts, both countries have failed to establish a unified border security mechanism. The rugged frontier remains a flashpoint for smuggling, infiltration, and violent skirmishes.
As of early Sunday, neither side confirmed a cessation of hostilities. Sources in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa described the situation as “tense but stable,” while Afghan provincial officials said local commanders were on “high alert.”
The border crisis comes as Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visits India, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics reshaping South Asia.
This latest confrontation is more than just a military clash—it’s a stark reminder of how fragile peace in the region remains. Both nations share not only borders but deep cultural, historical, and humanitarian ties. If dialogue fails and violence continues, it won’t just be soldiers who suffer—it will be ordinary people living along those rugged hills, caught between politics and survival.