ISLAMABAD (Realist English). Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban forces entered a third consecutive day on Saturday, following overnight exchanges of fire that have heightened international concern and prompted urgent calls for de-escalation.
Pakistani strikes on Friday targeted Taliban military positions, including sites in Kabul and Kandahar, marking one of the most extensive incursions into Afghan territory in recent years, according to officials. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it says is carrying out attacks inside Pakistan — an allegation the Taliban denies.
Pakistan described its actions as retaliation for cross-border assaults, while Kabul condemned the strikes as a violation of Afghan sovereignty. Taliban officials said they remain open to dialogue but warned that any broader escalation would carry serious consequences.
The clashes have raised fears of a drawn-out conflict along the rugged 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) border separating the two countries.
Diplomatic efforts intensified late Friday. Afghanistan said Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss reducing tensions and maintaining open communication channels. The European Union urged both sides to step back and engage in dialogue, while the United Nations called for an immediate halt to hostilities. Russia and China also appealed for restraint, with Beijing expressing readiness to help ease tensions.
A US State Department spokesperson said Washington supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks by the Taliban. A US official, speaking anonymously, indicated that Washington does not view Islamabad as the aggressor in the current escalation but hopes the situation does not spiral further.
Overnight, cross-border shelling and gunfire continued. Pakistani security sources said an operation codenamed “Ghazab Lil Haq” remained underway and claimed multiple Taliban posts and camps had been destroyed. These assertions could not be independently verified.
Both sides reported significant casualties, though figures remain disputed. Pakistan said 12 of its soldiers and 274 Taliban fighters were killed. Taliban officials reported 13 of their fighters and 55 Pakistani soldiers dead. Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat also said 19 civilians were killed and 26 wounded in Khost and Paktika provinces, a claim that has not been independently confirmed.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described the fighting as “open war,” saying Islamabad’s patience had run out and warning of further retaliation if attacks continue. Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, speaking in Khost province, cautioned that the conflict would be costly but said Afghan forces had not mobilized beyond those already engaged.
While Pakistan maintains a large, well-equipped military including a modern air force, the Taliban lacks conventional air capabilities and relies primarily on ground forces and light weapons. However, the group remains battle-hardened after two decades of insurgency before regaining power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The unfolding confrontation threatens to destabilize a volatile border region already strained by militancy and deep mistrust between the two neighbors.
