Afghanistan announced that its troops killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight border clashes near Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces seized 25 Pakistani army posts and wounded 30 soldiers.
He accused Pakistan of repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace over recent weeks.
“The situation along all Afghan borders remains under full control,” Mujahid said during a Kabul press briefing.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry confirmed the operation as “retaliatory and successful,” warning of stronger responses if Pakistan attacks again.
Pakistan Denies Blame and Warns of Escalation
Pakistan has long accused Afghan authorities of sheltering militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group.
Islamabad claims the group carries out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, but Kabul rejects those allegations.
Earlier this week, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in the east, though Islamabad has not admitted responsibility.
Before Kabul’s announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s army “destroyed several Afghan posts and forced them to retreat.”
Pakistani officials released videos allegedly showing destroyed Afghan checkpoints, but independent verification remains impossible due to restricted access.
Pakistan’s military reported that its forces “neutralised over 200 Taliban and affiliated fighters,” with many more wounded.
Regional Tensions Threaten Broader Instability
The escalating conflict risks destabilising a region already tense from growing militancy and strained borders.
Pakistan continues to battle surging violence along its frontier while accusing India of backing armed groups.
Both nations came close to war earlier this year after a deadly attack on tourists in disputed Kashmir.
Security officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said Afghan troops opened fire on multiple northwestern border areas overnight.
As tensions deepen, both sides insist they will defend their sovereignty, heightening fears of a wider regional confrontation.
