Afghan forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight clashes along the border, officials in Kabul announced Sunday.
They accused Pakistan of repeatedly violating Afghan territory and airspace over the past week.
Earlier, Afghan officials alleged that Pakistan bombed Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan, though Islamabad denied involvement.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan troops seized 25 Pakistani army posts and injured 30 enemy soldiers.
He declared that Afghanistan now holds full control of its borders and has stopped most illegal activities.
Retaliation and Warnings Escalate Tensions
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry confirmed it launched “retaliatory and successful operations” in response to Pakistan’s attacks.
Officials warned that any further violation of Afghan territory would trigger a “strong and immediate” military response.
Pakistan has previously targeted alleged militant hideouts inside Afghanistan, often in remote mountain regions.
Both countries have engaged in multiple border skirmishes since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The ministry vowed that Afghan forces remain fully prepared to defend the nation’s sovereignty.
Regional Friction Deepens Amid Rising Violence
Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants responsible for deadly attacks across its border.
Kabul denies the claim, insisting it does not allow its territory to be used against any nation.
Islamabad also blames India for supporting armed groups but has provided no public evidence.
These border clashes risk worsening instability in South Asia, already strained by tensions between Pakistan and India.
Before Kabul announced the casualties, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed Pakistan destroyed several Afghan positions in retaliation.
Pakistani officials released videos of damaged Afghan checkpoints, though independent verification remains impossible.
Pakistan’s military claimed it neutralised over 200 Taliban fighters and reported heavy Afghan fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
