Afghan Forces Launch Retaliatory Strikes on Pakistani Military Posts; Heavy Clashes Reported Along Durand Line
Kabul/Islamabad, Oct 12:
Tensions have dramatically escalated along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border as Afghanistan’s 201st Khalid bin Walid Army Corps announced that it has launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military outposts in the Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. The Corps described the operation as a “direct response” to Pakistan’s recent airstrike on Kabul, which reportedly targeted hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to a statement released by the Afghan military, the attacks were carried out near the Durand Line, a contentious border separating the two countries. The statement added that Afghan artillery units and ground forces were engaged in coordinated strikes against Pakistani positions.
Simultaneously, intense fighting has been reported in multiple border districts, including Aryoub Zazi in Paktia province, where the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s forces are said to be clashing with Pakistani troops. Unconfirmed reports suggest casualties on both sides, though neither government has officially released figures.
Eyewitnesses and local sources in Nangarhar told Afghan media outlets that artillery exchanges and small arms fire have been ongoing since early morning, forcing residents in several border villages to flee their homes.
The latest confrontation marks one of the most serious military escalations between Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent years. Islamabad has not yet issued a formal response to the Afghan Army’s claims.
This flare-up comes amid deepening distrust between the two neighbours, as Pakistan continues to accuse Kabul of harbouring TTP militants, while Afghanistan has repeatedly condemned Pakistani airstrikes as violations of its sovereignty.
Observers fear that if the situation continues to deteriorate, it could destabilize the fragile regional balance and threaten cross-border trade and humanitarian operations already strained by insecurity.
