Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply escalated after both sides launched cross-border attacks this week. The situation marks the most serious confrontation since the ceasefire agreed last October.
What Happened?
Late on Thursday night, the Afghan Taliban announced a large-scale offensive against Pakistani military positions along the border. The fighting reportedly began around 20:00 local time across several eastern Afghan provinces, including Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika.
Pakistan responded quickly. Officials said Afghan forces had opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In response, Pakistan launched air strikes during the early hours of Friday. The strikes targeted locations in Kabul as well as the provinces of Kandahar and Paktika, which lie close to the 2,600 km shared border.
Both sides accuse each other of initiating the violence. Independent confirmation of all claims remains difficult.
Drone Attacks and Military Claims
Afghan officials stated that they carried out drone strikes on Pakistani military sites on Friday morning. A Pakistani military officer confirmed that drones targeted three locations:
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An artillery school in Nowshehra
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An area near a military academy in Abbottabad
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A location near a primary school in Swabi
According to Pakistani authorities, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed the drones before they caused major damage.
Drone use in this conflict remains unusual. Taliban fighters typically rely on small, commercially available drones fitted with improvised explosives. Their operational range is usually limited.
Casualties and Damage
Pakistan’s military spokesperson said the country targeted 22 military sites inside Afghanistan, including locations in Kabul and Kandahar. Officials claimed they avoided civilian areas during the strikes.
Pakistani authorities reported:
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12 soldiers killed
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27 soldiers injured
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1 soldier missing
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274 Taliban fighters killed
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73 posts destroyed and 18 captured
They also claimed to have destroyed tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery systems.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban presented different figures. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said:
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13 Taliban fighters killed
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22 fighters injured
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13 civilians injured
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Several civilians killed
He stated that an air strike hit a farmer’s home in Jalalabad, killing most of his family. He also reported damage to a religious school in Paktika.
The Taliban claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, some captured, and 19 military bases destroyed.
The exact number of casualties on both sides remains unverified.
What This Means
This escalation threatens the fragile ceasefire agreed last year after a week of deadly clashes. Relations between the two neighboring countries have remained tense for months, mainly over border security and militant activity.
The coming days will be crucial. If both sides continue military operations, the conflict could widen further and destabilize the region
