Afghan Taliban, Pakistan exchange gunfire, dozens killed

Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of launching attacks on the Spin Boldak area in Kandahar province, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate and capture several Pakistani border posts.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed on X that “a large number” of Pakistani soldiers were killed and that Afghan forces had seized Pakistani weapons, tanks, and several military positions. He added that 12 Afghan civilians were killed and more than 100 injured in the Pakistani strike on Spin Boldak.

Pakistan’s military, however, offered a different account. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Pakistani security forces had repelled an attack by Afghan Taliban fighters along the Balochistan border, killing 15–20 militants in response.

“The situation is still developing. There are reports of further build-up at staging points of Fitna-al-Khwarij and the Afghan Taliban,” ISPR said, using the term Fitna-al-Khwarij to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

This marks the second major exchange of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent weeks. Tensions escalated after Pakistan reportedly conducted airstrikes in Kabul and Paktika province last Thursday — operations that Islamabad has not officially acknowledged.

The fresh clashes came as Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was on an official visit to India, underscoring the volatile state of relations between the two neighbours.