Violent exchanges erupt amid rising tensions following an airstrike on Kabul, which the Taliban attributes to Pakistan.
Hostilities have flared between Taliban fighters and Pakistani military forces along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, sparking urgent appeals for calm from regional powers including Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. This escalation follows an airstrike on Kabul earlier this week, which the Taliban has blamed on Islamabad.
Enayatullah Khwarizmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, reported late Saturday that Taliban units launched “effective retaliatory” operations targeting Pakistani troops. These actions were in response to what he described as Islamabad’s “persistent incursions” and aerial attacks on Afghan soil.
Khwarizmi confirmed via X that the counterattacks concluded by midnight.
Conversely, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Taliban’s cross-border assaults as “unprovoked,” asserting that Pakistani forces responded “proportionally and decisively.”
“The targeting of civilian areas by Afghan forces constitutes a clear breach of international law. Pakistan’s valiant troops have delivered a swift and firm reply, signaling that no aggression will be tolerated,” Naqvi stated on X.
According to Radio Pakistan, citing security officials, the Afghan offensives occurred at approximately six points along the frontier.
The report detailed that these attacks triggered a “vigorous and forceful” counterstrike by the Pakistan Army, accompanied by video footage showing gunfire and artillery illuminating the night.
It remains unclear whether the confrontations have fully ceased.
This outbreak of violence follows a series of explosions in Kabul caused by an airstrike on Thursday, which the Taliban has accused Pakistan of orchestrating.
Pakistan has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the recent air raids.
Nonetheless, Islamabad alleges that the Afghan Taliban government provides sanctuary to Pakistani Taliban militants who launch attacks inside Pakistan, allegedly with backing from India.
India rejects these accusations, while the Taliban insists it does not permit its territory to be used for hostile actions against other nations.
The intensifying conflict has raised alarms across the region.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged both Afghanistan and Pakistan to “exercise restraint.”
Speaking in a live broadcast on state television, Araghchi emphasized that “stability between these neighbors is crucial for broader regional peace,” as reported by AFP.
Qatar voiced “serious concern” over the rising tensions and their potential impact on regional security and stability.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry called on both parties to “prioritize dialogue and diplomacy, practice restraint, and manage disputes constructively to prevent escalation and foster peace.”
Saudi Arabia also expressed apprehension regarding the situation.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry urged “calm, avoidance of escalation, and the pursuit of dialogue and wisdom to ease tensions and uphold security and stability in the region.”
It further affirmed the kingdom’s support for all regional and international initiatives aimed at promoting peace and its ongoing commitment to safeguarding security, which it said is essential for the prosperity and stability of both the Pakistani and Afghan peoples.
