Afghanistan Attacks Pakistan, 58 Pakistani Soldiers Killed
Fresh clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated tensions, with both sides claiming heavy casualties and Pakistan trying to drag India into the conflict without evidence.
Fresh fighting has broken out between Pakistan and Afghanistan, marking one of the worst military clashes between the two neighbours in recent years. Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes inside its territory on 9th October, causing heavy damage to buildings and property. In response, Pakistan claimed that the strikes were aimed at TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) militants who were using Afghan land as a safe base to launch attacks against Pakistan.
The violence quickly escalated, with the Taliban claiming it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and injured 30 others in overnight counterattacks. Pakistan, on the other hand, stated that its security forces had killed over 200 TTP militants and captured 19 Afghan military posts along with several terrorist hideouts. These sharp exchanges have led to rising tensions along the border.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid warned Pakistan to stop harbouring ISIS terrorists and demanded that Islamabad expel key ISIS members believed to be hiding in Pakistan. He said that ISIS is a threat not only to Afghanistan but to many countries around the world.
Meanwhile, civilians have also been caught in the crossfire. According to Afghan officials, Pakistani forces launched a mortar strike on a village in Helmand province, killing one civilian and injuring another. Reports also suggest that Pakistani drones recently targeted an area in Kandahar, although the Taliban government has not issued any official statement on that strike.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called the Taliban attacks "unprovoked" and accused them of firing at civilians, calling it a clear violation of international law. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attacks from Afghanistan and warned that any aggression would receive a strong and effective response. He accused the Taliban government of sheltering terrorist groups and said Pakistan would not compromise on its defence.
In response, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi denied that the TTP was operating from Afghanistan. He claimed that the fighters were actually displaced Pakistanis who had taken shelter in Afghanistan after military operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas. He also criticised Pakistan for constantly blaming Afghanistan instead of addressing its own issues.
As the situation worsens, former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has called for both sides to begin peace talks. He expressed concern that continued fighting could lead to even more instability in the region.
As expected, Pakistan also tried to drag India into the matter. A post shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the official account of Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior claimed that “Afghanistan is playing a game of fire and blood, and the threads of this are linked to our eternal enemy,” clearly hinting at India. Later in the same post, Pakistan directly mentioned India, saying “Afghanistan will be given a befitting reply like India.”
This once again shows how Pakistan often blames India for its internal and regional issues, even without any logical connection or proof. Despite having no involvement in the current conflict, India was unnecessarily pulled into the matter by Pakistan, as it has done many times in the past.
