Deadly Clashes Erupt Between Afghan and Pakistani Forces, Killing Over a Dozen Civilians

More than 12 civilians were killed and over 100 injured in Afghanistan on Wednesday as fierce clashes erupted between Afghan and Pakistani forces, shattering a brief lull in hostilities following deadly weekend confrontations that left dozens dead on both sides.

According to Taliban officials, Pakistani forces launched attacks in the early hours of the morning along the border, reigniting tensions that have simmered for months between the two countries. “Early this morning, Pakistani forces launched attacks … more than 12 civilians were martyred and over 100 others were wounded,” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on X, formerly Twitter.

The Taliban claimed its forces retaliated by killing “a large number of Pakistani soldiers,” capturing several posts and military centers, and seizing weapons, tanks, and other equipment. The group further claimed to have “destroyed” a number of Pakistani military facilities during the fighting.

Pakistani officials, however, blamed the Taliban for initiating the clashes. “Taliban forces attacked a Pakistani post near Chaman,” said Habib Ullah Bangulzai, the regional administrator in Pakistan’s Chaman district, which borders Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak area. He said the fighting lasted for about five hours before Pakistani forces “repulsed” the attack. Four civilians were reported injured on the Pakistani side.

The violence marks the most severe escalation between the two neighbours since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, despite regular skirmishes along the 2,600-kilometre frontier known as the Durand Line. The border, drawn during British colonial rule, remains a longstanding source of dispute, with both countries accusing each other of harbouring militants.

Tensions have risen sharply in recent months after Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — a banned militant group responsible for numerous attacks inside Pakistan — to operate from Afghan soil. The Taliban has repeatedly denied the claim, insisting there are no Pakistani militants in Afghanistan.

In the wake of the clashes, several key border crossings have been closed, halting trade and leaving dozens of cargo trucks stranded on both sides. The closures have disrupted vital supply lines, as Pakistan remains the main source of food and goods for landlocked Afghanistan.

The renewed fighting has drawn international concern. China has urged both nations to protect its citizens and investments, while Russia has called for restraint. U.S. President Donald Trump also said he was willing to help mediate between the two countries to prevent further escalation.

The fresh border tensions come as Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visits India, Pakistan’s longtime rival. During the visit, India and Afghanistan agreed to strengthen bilateral ties, with New Delhi announcing plans to reopen its embassy in Kabul and the Taliban administration confirming it would send diplomats to India — a move likely to add new complexity to South Asia’s shifting regional dynamics.