Afghan Forces Clash with Pakistan ‘In Retaliation’ for Kabul Air Strikes

On Friday, Afghanistan accused Pakistan of breaching its sovereignty by launching air strikes in Kabul

Heavy fighting reportedly broke out along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border on Saturday, days after the Taliban claimed Islamabad bombed its territory. According to Afghan military sources, the clashes in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan occurred “in retaliation” for those air raids.

On Friday, Afghanistan accused Pakistan of infringing its sovereignty by carrying out aerial attacks in Kabul. “In retaliation for air strikes carried out by the Pakistani army on Kabul,” Taliban forces are engaged “in heavy clashes against Pakistani security forces in various areas” along the border, the Afghan military said in a statement.

“In a swift and forceful response, Pakistani forces successfully struck several Afghan border posts,” security officials told Dawn, adding that multiple Afghan posts and militant setups suffered significant damage.

Afghanistan’s defence ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarizmi said on Saturday that Taliban forces conducted “successful retaliatory” attacks on Pakistani troops as a response to Islamabad’s “repeated violations” and air strikes on Afghan soil.

Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have urged restraint following the escalation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which coincides with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s week-long visit to India.

Though Islamabad has not admitted to carrying out the strikes, it called on Kabul to “stop harbouring the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on its soil,” the Dawn newspaper reported.

The Guardian cited a Pakistani government source saying Taliban forces opened fire at several border points. “We retaliated with artillery at four locations along the border,” the source said.

The firing occurred at key posts including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Baramcha in Balochistan, The Express Tribune reported.

Taliban spokesmen representing the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand — all bordering Pakistan — confirmed the clashes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called the Afghan attacks “unprovoked.”

“Firing by Afghan forces on civilian population is a blatant violation of international laws. Pakistan’s brave forces have given a prompt and effective response that no provocation will be tolerated,” he posted on X.