ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (FN) — Intense fighting erupted this week along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border, leaving dozens dead and reigniting fears of a broader regional conflict. The clashes, which began early Wednesday, mark one of the deadliest escalations between the two countries since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.
According to Pakistani military officials, at least 23 soldiers were killed when Taliban fighters launched coordinated attacks on multiple border posts in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The attacks reportedly targeted installations near Chaman, a key crossing point between the two nations. In response, Pakistani forces retaliated with artillery and drone strikes, killing an estimated 15 to 20 Taliban fighters.
Afghan authorities offered a starkly different account, accusing Pakistani troops of initiating the violence by firing “light and heavy weapons” into Spin Boldak district in Kandahar province. The Afghan Ministry of Defense claimed that retaliatory strikes killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, though Islamabad has denied these figures.
Civilian casualties have mounted on both sides of the border. Afghan officials reported at least 15 civilian deaths and more than 100 injuries, many of them women and children. Hospitals in Spin Boldak were overwhelmed with wounded, while Pakistani paramedics treated victims in border towns across Balochistan.
The renewed hostilities prompted Pakistan to temporarily close all border crossings with Afghanistan, including the vital Torkham and Chaman routes. Afghan officials later requested a ceasefire near Chaman, but tensions remain high, with both sides reinforcing their positions.
The clashes follow a series of deadly explosions in Kabul last week, which Pakistani intelligence agencies have linked to Afghan-based militants. Islamabad has long accused the Taliban government of harboring fighters from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a claim Kabul continues to deny.
International observers have expressed alarm over the violence. The United Nations called for restraint and urged both governments to resume diplomatic dialogue. Humanitarian agencies warned that the fighting could worsen conditions for civilians already grappling with displacement and economic hardship.
The border region has long been a flashpoint for insurgent activity, smuggling, and political friction. Analysts say the latest escalation could derail efforts to stabilize the region and complicate counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.
As both governments trade accusations and casualties rise, the prospect of a sustained conflict looms large. Without a clear path to de-escalation, the fragile peace along the Durand Line may be at risk of unraveling.
