Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan after an overnight exchange of fire near the border
2025-10-12 14:02
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2025-10-12 14:02
Pakistan closed its border crossings with Afghanistan on Sunday after an exchange of fire between the forces of both countries, the Pakistani authorities said, quoted by Reuters. The Taliban, which rules Afghanistan, says its forces have killed almost 60 Pakistani soldiers.
The exchange of fire took place on the night from Saturday to Sunday. Afghan troops fired at Pakistani border posts, which was met with a response from the neighboring country's troops.
The government in Kabul said on Sunday that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 more injured in overnight border operations. According to the Taliban, the attack was in response to “repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace” by Pakistani forces.
The Pakistani army reported 23 dead soldiers on Sunday, as well as 200 Taliban casualties.
The Afghan government's defense ministry said Sunday morning that its forces had carried out “retaliatory and successful operations” along the border.
“If the opposing side violates the territorial integrity of Afghanistan again, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country's borders and will respond decisively,” added the ministry, quoted by the AP agency.
On Sunday, Kabul announced it had halted the attacks at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, the Taliban accused Islamabad of, among others, for the bombing of Kabul.
Pakistan has previously carried out attacks on targets in Afghanistan, claiming they were militant hideouts. There have also been skirmishes between the two sides along the border in the past.
Pakistan blames Afghanistan for sheltering the rebel Islamist group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP has been attacking Pakistani security forces since 2007, seeking to overthrow the government and introduce fundamentalist Islamic law in Pakistan. Kabul denies these accusations.
Both countries share a border that is over 2,600 kilometers long. km, but Afghanistan never recognized it. (PAP)
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