Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Violence: 15 Soldiers Dead, Posts Seized

A significant military escalation has occurred along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with at least 15 Pakistani soldiers killed and three border posts reportedly captured by Taliban forces on Saturday night. Afghan officials attribute the fighting to a Taliban retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. The clashes spanned multiple locations across Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. Pakistani security sources described the incident as a response to incoming fire from Afghan positions, claiming their forces effectively targeted and destroyed multiple Afghan posts and militant groups. They referred to the militants as ‘Khwarij,’ a term used for the TTP. In contrast, the Taliban’s border forces asserted that the engagement was in direct retribution for Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil. Sources within Afghanistan indicated the seizure of two Pakistani border posts in Helmand province. The Pakistani military responded with heavy artillery and armor, highlighting the severity of the confrontation. This outbreak of violence follows a period of heightened tension, with Pakistan urging Afghanistan to cease providing safe havens for the TTP. The situation remains volatile, with Pakistan’s Defence Minister issuing a stern warning against further attacks.