Pakistan closed its border crossings with Afghanistan after gunfire exchanges occurred overnight, with Afghanistan claiming to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes. Afghan troops opened fire on Pakistani posts, prompting a response from Pakistan with gun and artillery fire. Afghanistan also reported 20 Afghan troops either killed or injured, but did not verify how it obtained the casualty figures.
Both countries alleged damage to each other’s border posts, with Pakistan releasing videos depicting Afghan posts being hit. By Sunday morning, the exchanges of fire mostly ceased, though some gunfire continued in Pakistan’s Kurram area. Afghanistan announced it had halted its attacks at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who expressed concern over the incidents. A Taliban spokesperson stated there was no threat to Afghanistan’s territory and emphasized their commitment to defend it.
Pakistan accused the Taliban of sheltering militants who target Pakistan, a claim Kabul denied. The main border crossings at Torkham and Chaman, along with several minor crossings, were closed on Sunday, impacting Afghanistan’s access to Pakistan. The Pakistani airstrikes aimed at a leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group, and it remains unclear if he survived.
With information from Reuters
