Fresh cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan have left dozens dead, with both sides trading heavy accusations and battlefield claims.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office says 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded in ongoing counter-strikes targeting positions inside Afghanistan. Government spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said 27 Taliban posts were destroyed and nine seized, with additional casualties reported in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.
Islamabad accused Afghan forces of opening “unprovoked fire” across multiple border locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting what it described as an immediate and effective military response.
In Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid rejected Pakistan’s narrative, claiming Afghan fighters captured and destroyed several Pakistani outposts and killed numerous troops.
The latest clashes come days after Pakistani airstrikes targeted militants accused of launching cross-border attacks from Afghan territory — allegations Kabul denies. Independent verification of the casualty figures remains unavailable.
Tensions have surged repeatedly since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, with both sides previously accused of exaggerating battlefield gains during past confrontations.
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